611.60D31/3–245: Telegram
The United States Representative in Finland ( Hamilton )31 to the Secretary of State
[Received March 3—7:35 a.m.]
71. When I called informally on February 27 on Foreign Minister Enckell and on March 1 on Associate Foreign Minister Svento, I explained the nature of my assignment. I said it did not constitute resumption of diplomatic relations and that the functions of the Mission were of limited character.32 Both expressed appreciation of steps taken by the American Government to reestablish contact. They stressed urgency and difficulties connected with reparation payments to Soviet Union, and raised question of resumption of commercial relations with United States and possible extension of American credits, perhaps to cover specific undertakings, such as construction of manufacturing plants or housing projects. They thought it would be useful to send qualified Finnish representatives to the United States to study possibilities, and asked whether I thought this would be feasible. In response, I recalled experience of the American people in extending credits to Germany after the last war. The American people having burned their fingers badly on this would not be enthusiastic about undertaking to finance reparation payments for Germany or for countries associated with Germany. I pointed out that there are no shipping routes open to Finland at present; that the United States is absorbed in [Page 641] prosecuting the war and lacks supplies and shipping sufficient to give our Allies all that we would like to furnish to prosecuting the war. I mentioned that the situation relating to transportation of passengers is difficult, and that propositions which might come up for consideration some months hence were not being given special attention in the United States at present when energy and thought were being concentrated on matters requiring immediate attention, especially those relating to the war.
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Repeated to Stockholm as my 23 and to Moscow as my 22.