Office of the Historian

212. Telegram From the Embassy in Finland to the Department of State0

Helsinki, February 13, 1962, 5 p.m.

432. Department also pass Army, Navy, Air, DOD. Reference: Moscow telegram 2178, repeated Helsinki 60.1 Embassy has following comment regarding information in telegram under reference.

Limitations on Finnish armament contained in 1947 peace treaty2 signed by ten allied and associated powers including USSR and UK. Article 22 of peace treaty provides for amendment military provisions by agreement among all signatories or by Finnish agreement with UN Security Council.

Evidence suggests Bjorkenheim may well have approached Soviets on question of raising these limitations. Finnish military has long had this objective. This is first time Finnish purchases of Soviet arms negotiated by Cabinet Minister. Moreover, we understand [less than 1 line of source text not declassified] that Bjorkenheim explored amendment of peace treaty military provisions prior to his departure for Moscow.

Source may be correct regarding types of equipment to be purchased. No previous indication here, however, Bjorkenheim group intended purchase anti-aircraft guns and radar from Soviets. Finns have, however, previously shown interest in anti-aircraft missiles.

Of $125 million Soviet credit, about 50 percent has been allocated Finnish military. This includes latest $37.5 million allocation. According best available information, approximately $25 million of original $125 million credit remains unallocated and could be made available for additional military or other purchases.

Regarding cable, presume source referring to four-tube coaxial Helsinki–Leningrad cable presently being installed. Embassy has reported extensively on this cable which scheduled for completion 1963. Cable to be used for ordinary communications purposes, according to Finns, but it readily adaptable for military purposes.

This message prepared in consultation with military attaches.

Gufler
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 660E.61/2–1362. Secret. Also sent to Moscow.↩
  2. Telegram 2178 from Moscow, February 10, reported on a Finno-Soviet agreement to amend the terms of their 1948 treaty, increasing the size of Finnish military forces and expending remaining Soviet military credits. (Ibid., 660E.61/2–1062)↩
  3. For text of the 1947 Treaty of Paris, see 48 UNTS 203.↩