860D.01B11/5–2845: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the United States Representative in Finland ( Hamilton )
85. Department’s 70, May 2 and 76, May 1056 and your 71, March 2; 157, April 1257 and 192, April 28. We have been giving careful consideration to the several problems that have been brought up by Gartz and to his repeated suggestions that a Finnish representative be permitted to come to this country to discuss these questions. It is believed that such discussion would be more effectively facilitated by a permanent mission than by a special delegation and that the presence in this country of some form of permanent Finnish representation short of [Page 650] diplomatic representation might in fact be of general usefulness in facilitating the disposition of matters of current interest. We should appreciate your early comment on this matter.
For your information the Department has expressed to the Hungarian and Bulgarian Governments its willingness to receive from them an informal governmental representation in this country without the restoration of diplomatic relations. This decision was based on the view which the Department has consistently maintained that the sending of representatives to the three major Allied capitals by the former satellite states during the armistice period is in each instance a matter to be decided by the Government of the Allied country concerned. There would seem to be even less objection in the case of Finland than in the case of Hungary and Bulgaria. Should your reaction be favorable we would be disposed to authorize you to indicate to the Finnish authorities the willingness of this Government to entertain any proposals the Finnish Government may wish to make regarding the sending of a Finnish representative to this country. Although such a representative would not be accredited officially to this Government and his presence here would in no sense imply a resumption of diplomatic relations between the two countries, he would have access to the American authorities and such facilities as would enable him in an unofficial and informal way to represent Finnish interests in this country. The appointment of any particular individual for this post would, of course, be subject to the approval of this Government.
Sent to Helsinki; repeated to Moscow as Department’s 1167.