711.60D/1–2045: Telegram
The Secretary of Mission in Finland ( Higgs ) to the Secretary of State
[Received January 21—3:20 p.m.]
11. Following my call on Zhdanov today I proceeded to a lunch given by the Finnish Foreign Minister82 for the visiting Anglo-American correspondents upon conclusion of which I paid call on Mr. Enckell as previously arranged with Chief of Protocol.83
In accordance with instructions informed the Minister of nature and purpose of our mission and of character of relations which we expected to have with his Government. He showed complete understanding and no disposition to ask for more than we proposed, and offered every facility.
I told him that I had been instructed to bear in mind that Procopé,84 Vaher Vjori85 and Solanko86 had been expelled from United States87 for “activities inimical to interests of the United States” and that accordingly I should be unable to deal with them. He indicated that Procopé was completely out of the picture now and said the other two would be kept out of my way.
Minister then dwelt upon Finland’s great need to import certain products in order produce goods required by reparations agreement. He chose as example ships plates (at no time did he mention loans [Page 627] and I had the impression he had in mind paying for such imports with Finnish exports). He said then that when armistice88 was signed Sweden had promised Finland certain supplies obviously on expectation of early ending of war in Europe, but that Swedes had recently indicated they would be unable to fulfill completely their undertakings in view of war lasting longer than expected. I dampened his hopes of obtaining ships plates from United States by referring to vast extent of Pacific war and our great need for ships in that connection. I told him that nevertheless I should always be ready to discuss such matters with him in light of realities of situation existing and anticipated at that time. He was entirely clear in his mind that subject must remain academic at least until Germany’s defeat concerning which he evinced no doubts.
Foreign Minister gave me strong impression of being quite tired and very worried indeed though he tried to put up a cheerful front. There can be no doubt, however, of the genuineness of his welcome to me, though he punctiliously gave Orlov most of his attention in which effort I attempted to be as cooperative as possible.
- Carl J. A. Enckell.↩
- Johannes A. Nyyssőnen.↩
- Hjalmar J. Procopé, former Minister of Finland to the United States.↩
- Torsten O. Vahervuori, former Counselor of the Finnish Legation in the United States.↩
- Risto Solanko, former Counselor of the Finnish Legation in the United States.↩
- For documentation on the expulsion of these Finnish diplomats from the United States, see Foreign Relations, 1944, vol. iii, pp. 600–602.↩
- For documentation on the signature of the armistice on September 19, 1944, between Finland and the Allied Powers, see Foreign Relations, 1944, vol. iii, pp. 608 ff.↩