740.00119 Control (Finland)/4–2845: Telegram

The United States Representative in Finland ( Hamilton ) to the Secretary of State

191. Since arrival here 2 months ago I have noted that the situation in Finland differs in a number of respects from the picture of other former German satellite countries which I formed in the Department from official reports. The most important difference is undoubtedly that no large number [of troops] is stationed on Finnish territory. In Rumania and Bulgaria Soviet forces, by reason of numbers alone, inevitably cause serious impact upon many aspects of life. That type of impact is absent here.

The Bulgarian, Rumanian and Hungarian armistice agreements43 contain a provision giving the Allied (Soviet) command a control over publication, importation and distribution of literature, theatrical performances and films and communication by wireless, post, telegraph and telephone. There is no such provision in the Finnish agreement.

[Page 614]

In Finland the Control Commission does not exercise control over rail, telephone, cable postal or radio communication within the country. The Finnish Government itself exercises censorship control within Finland and to and from Finland. During the elections press stories to be sent abroad which related to the ACC were referred to it. All communication between Finland and Germany is, of course, stopped.44 There is a prohibition, waived in the case of the American Government, on the use of diplomatic communication by diplomatic missions in Finland until German troops are completely withdrawn from Finland. The Soviet Government may not agree that except for the foregoing restrictions control over external communications lies with the Finnish Government. This is the view of the Finnish Government and of the British. Airplane and ship controls give the ACC power to restrict and stop communication by air or sea.

As to the movement of individuals within Finland and between Finland and foreign countries, this seems to fall within the province of the Finnish Government and not of the Control Commission. Except for frontier areas where restrictions have been recently modified and for certain relatively small military areas, there are no restrictions on movement of Finnish nationals within Finland. The Finnish Government restricts movement of Finnish nationals to Sweden because Finland does not wish to lose foreign exchange. The Soviet members of the ACC at one time raised but did not press the question of passing on the visit of a British press representative. This has not been raised again.

I do not know whether American, British and Soviet publications are received and sold in other former satellite countries. Here several American, British and Soviet publications as well as Swedish are for sale in the news stands to the general public.

The Finnish Government probably exercises wider authority and more responsibility than other governments in the former satellite countries. Erroneous conclusions should not be drawn from this. Broad controls are established under the Finnish armistice agreement and the Soviet Government and the ACC follow developments in Finland with great care and bring influence to bear to accomplish desired objectives. Finland exists as do other former satellite countries in the shadow of Soviet power and Soviet attitude is an important and ever present factor.45 However, the technique and procedures here [Page 615] seem to differ in a number of respects from those found in other former German satellite countries.

Sent to Department as my 191 and to Moscow as my 53.

Hamilton
  1. Text of the armistice agreement of October 28, 1944, with Bulgaria is printed in Department of State Bulletin, October 29, 1944, p. 492; text of the armistice agreement of September 12, 1944, with Rumania is printed ibid., September 17, 1944, p. 289; and text of the armistice agreement of January 20, 1945, with Hungary is printed ibid., January 21, 1945, p. 83. Concerning the negotiation of these agreements, see bracketed note, Foreign Relations, 1944, vol. i, pp. 3940.
  2. The Finnish Government had declared war on Germany on March 1, 1945, legalizing the hostilities which had been carried on since September 15, 1944.
  3. In airgram 8, June 16, 1945, from Helsinki, the United States Representative informed the Department that in December 1944, 21 sub-commissions of the Allied Control Commission were scattered throughout Finland. In June 1945, only 9 sub-commissions remained and these “consist of only a few people, usually a Soviet Naval Officer and one or two assistants. They control the movement of ships to Sweden, to Russia and from one Finnish port to another.” There was no British representation at any of these points. (740.00119 Control (Finland)/6–1645)