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  4. Document 612

123 Higgs, L. Randolpli/1–1345: Telegram

The Minister in Sweden ( Johnson ) to the Secretary of State

Stockholm , January 13, 1945—7 p.m.
[Received 9:50 p.m.]

160. Soviet Legation Counselor73 informed Higgs74 at noon today that all arrangements had just been completed with Control Commission [Page 625] in Helsinki for Higgs’ arrival in Finland. He explained that when he had phoned Helsinki on January 10 (my 117, January 10, 6 p.m.;75 repeated to Moscow as my 5), Zhdanov76 and Orlov77 had been out of town and it had been impossible to arrange matter with others on Commission (my 6 repeats this to Moscow). The latter had returned from Moscow only this a.m., and had immediately been able to approve the project.

Zhdanov continues to be absent. (See my 72 January 6, 2 p.m.;75 repeated to Moscow as 2).

Counselor informed Higgs, flight could take place at our convenience, Soviet authorities desiring only to be informed in good time of time of departure, plane identifications, et cetera. Weather conditions permitting, Higgs, therefore, plans to leave here January 15.

Earlier departure does not seem feasible as AATS78 plane reserved for this flight has developed motor trouble and it is therefore necessary to await arrival of another plane from the United Kingdom which is anticipated to take place possibly tonight which would make it impossible to furnish plane identification, et cetera, to Soviet authorities before tomorrow probably too late for flight to take place that day.79

Johnson
  1. Vladimir Semenovich Semenov, Counselor of the Soviet Legation in Stockholm.↩
  2. L. Randolph Higgs was appointed Secretary of Mission in Finland on December 6, 1944. For documentation respecting his appointment, see Foreign Relations, 1944, vol. iii, pp. 626–633.↩
  3. Not printed.↩
  4. Andrey Andreyevich Zhdanov, Chairman of the Allied Control Commission in Finland, who held the military rank of Colonel General as well as political posts in the Soviet Union, including those of Secretary, and member of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party.↩
  5. Pavel Dmitriyevich Orlov, Political Adviser to the Allied Control Commission in Finland.↩
  6. Not printed.↩
  7. Apparent garble. Reference is probably to the Air Transport Command (ATC), United States Army Air Force.↩
  8. Mr. Higgs arrived in Helsinki on January 16, 1945.↩