860D.00/3–2345: Telegram
The United States Representative in Finland (Hamilton) to the Secretary of State
[Received 8:45 p.m.]
127. Shepherd saw Orlov yesterday to discuss the election results. He told Orlov that in his opinion points A, B, C and D of the Yalta [Page 610] Declaration on Liberated Europe38 had been met in Finland. He said further that the results in his view were a cause for sober satisfaction. Orlov concurred. (Whether in both statements or just the last was not clear). He commented that the elections seemed to have been carried out in a “normal” manner and generally reflected the will at this time of the Finnish people. He said the desire for friendly relations with USSR manifested on all sides.
Shepherd commented that there still remained, however, the destruction of the last vestiges of Naziism and Fascism. Orlov agreed but deprecated the immediate importance of the issue saying that this would take time. Shepherd interpreted his comments as an encouraging sign of lack of intention by the Soviets to take precipitate or drastic action. He also felt that Orlov’s comments were generally encouraging.
Shepherd is considering the advisability of some sort of public statement on the part of the British to place the stamp of their approval on Finnish developments as manifested by the elections. He feels that timing is important but is somewhat uncertain whether such statement should be issued now or after Cabinet and Diet reorganization takes place following the convening of the new Diet on April 6.
Orlov told Shepherd he had not yet discussed election with Zhdanov.
Other indications of Soviet attitude toward elections are more reserved than that which Shepherd obtained from Orlov. Vapaa Sana, press organ of Democratic Union, and an article from yesterday’s Izvestia reported inconspicuously in Finnish press today are to the effect that although Democratic Union won 25 percent of Diet seats this figure does not represent real feelings of the people as equal opportunity had not been afforded for them to express their views. These articles state that Finnish reactionary elements are still strong and indicate that further action is necessary against war responsibles. Orlov’s attitude and that expressed in press items may not represent inconsistencies in Soviet policy toward Finland.
Without knowing whether a public statement by the Department regarding elections would fit into overall policy and situations in other countries such as Poland and Rumania, and speaking only from our viewpoint here, we suggest that a statement in reply to a question at regular press conference might be useful. Such statement could be to the effect that while all details on Finnish elections are not yet known results seem to be along a constructive line; that it is gratifying that elections were carried out in a quiet and orderly manner and especially [Page 611] that largest number of citizens on record exercised their democratic right and privilege to vote.
- For the Declaration on Liberated Europe made at the Yalta Conference on February 11, 1945, see Foreign Relations, The Conferences at Malta and Yalta, 1945, pp. 971–973.↩