740.00116 E.W./9–1345: Telegram
The Chargé in Finland ( Hulley )58 to the Secretary of State
[Received 10:35 p.m.]
531. Passage of war responsibles bill by Diet September 12 important milestone in Finland’s execution of armistice agreement practically one year after armistice signed. Finns clearly reluctant to take action repugnant to national sense of justice and tradition but have finally been forced to it. Question discussed since early this year but Cabinet unable formulate law until interpellation in Diet end June followed by left wing mass meetings throughout country evidently inspired from Moscow through Soviet-Finn Society and Communists. Debates in Diet were bitter and Cabinet made question matter of confidence. Finns would have taken no action unless pressure possibly justifiable had been brought to bear by Soviets to have article XIII of armistice agreement implemented. Only published evidence of pressure by Control Commission was statement in press September 11 before final vote was taken refuting arguments of supreme court and constitution committee. Finns acted with eye to possibility of early peace treaty in London Council Foreign Ministers.59
Law is relatively mild. A special war guilt court will try persons who contributed decisively to Finns entrance in 1941 war or prevented its termination. Maximum penalty is life sentence and President has amnesty powers. Prosecutions must be instituted this year. Number accused expected be small.
- Benjamin M. Hulley became Secretary of Mission in Chargé of the United States Mission in Finland on August 22, 1945.↩
- For documentation on the meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers in London, September 11–October 2, 1945, see vol. ii, pp. 99 ff.↩