Office of the Historian

214. Memorandum of Conversation0

Washington, October 23, 1959.

SUBJECT

  • General Marshall; Outer Seven; Finno-Soviet Trade; Finnish Cabinet Reorganization

PARTICIPANTS

  • The Secretary
  • Finnish Foreign Minister Törngren1
  • Finnish Ambassador Seppala
  • Ambassador Edson Sessions—Ambassador to Finland2
  • Harvey F. Nelson, Jr.—BNA

Foreign Minister Törngren initiated the conversation by expressing Finland’s sympathy and condolences over the death of General Marshall3 whom he said Finland considered a great statesman.

The Foreign Minister said he is most appreciative of the understanding and helpful attitude the United States has shown toward Finland. The Secretary replied that there is a very good reason for our attitude, namely, the great respect the U.S. has for Finland’s courageous and skillful handling of its very difficult situation.

After referring to the new 5-year Finno-Soviet trade agreement4 and noting that the bulk of Finland’s trade is with the Free World, Mr. Törngren commented on the potential importance of the Outer Seven Free Trade Area to the Finnish economy. He noted the negative Soviet attitude toward the Outer Seven and the possible political difficulties for Finland, if it were a member of the Outer Seven, when some form of agreement is reached between the Seven and the EEC. The Secretary responded that the Soviet Union appeared to oppose the formation of any kind of a bloc, be it military or economic. Mr. Törngren said that, as a [Page 558] solution for Finland, he is thinking in terms of a kind of associate membership in the Seven.

Discussing the possibility of a summit meeting in response to a question by Mr. Törngren, the Secretary said that the U.S. hopes for a Western top level meeting soon, perhaps within the next six weeks, but that in all probability an East-West summit meeting would not be held before the end of the year.

The Secretary asked whether there has been anything concrete behind the recurrent reports of possible Cabinet reorganization in Finland. Foreign Minister Törngren replied that this had been a matter for discussion. He said that it is quite difficult for a minority to govern and that some reorganization of the Cabinet might occur about May 1960.

  1. Source: Department of State, Secretary’s Memoranda of Conversation: Lot 64 D 199. Confidential. Drafted by Nelson.↩
  2. Foreign Minister Ralf Törngren was in the United States to attend the U.N. General Assembly.↩
  3. Sessions was the Ambassador-designate to Finland. Although appointed on October 20, he did not officially present his credentials to the Finnish Government until November 28. Ambassador Hickerson remained at post until November 3.↩
  4. General George C. Marshall, Secretary of State under President Truman, died on October 16.↩
  5. Signed in Helsinki on October 22, the new trade agreement provided for a 2 percent annual increase in Finnish imports from the Soviet Union for the years 1961–1965. (Telegram 248 from Helsinki, October 23; Department of State, Central Files, 460E.6141/10–2359) Department of State intelligence sources estimated that during the 5-year period the trade agreement would not significantly expand the relative share of Finnish trade with the Soviet Union, which was expected to remain at about 17 percent of Finland’s total trade. (INR Report No. 8156, November 16; National Archives and Records↩