221. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in the United Kingdom0
6212. For Ambassador from Secretary. Deliver following personal message from me to Lord Home:
“Dear Alec: As I promised in Athens, I have carefully looked into the difficult question of permitting Finland to acquire guided missile weapons through a revision of the Finnish Peace Treaty.
Although we are not a party to the Treaty, and your Government is the principal Western signatory, I have appreciated the opportunities to exchange thoughts on the subject with you. As you know my initial reaction as expressed to Ambassador Ormsby Gore on March 10 was against a Treaty revision. Now, after a careful reexamination of the subject, I have again concluded that the proposed revision of the Finnish Peace Treaty would be contrary to the best interests of the West. Officials in the Department of Defense, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and I all take the view that acquisition by Finland of guided missile weapons would be both militarily and politically unwise. The military aspects strongly indicate, in our opinion, that the strategic position of the West would be adversely affected.
I am aware of how delicate a matter of judgment is involved in assessing the political aspects of determining whether the Finns should have these guided missiles. On the basis of all the information we have I am left with no alternative but to conclude that the political results would not be helpful to us. I question, on the basis of the review I have had made, that the acquisition of a modern air defense capability would give the Finns added confidence and political strength to resist encroachments by the Soviet Union. I am not sure but that, on the contrary, this might well give the USSR political as well as military advantages.
If Finland were to acquire such modern weapons the political and military position of our other friends in Northern Europe would be directly affected. I understand that you have not discussed this matter with Norwegian, Danish and Swedish authorities. I recall that President Kekkonen told Mr. Khrushchev at Novosibirsk last November that a further build-up of armed forces in Northern Europe could be avoided if the USSR withdrew its demands on Finland. Mr. Khrushchev thereupon temporarily withdrew his demands.
[Page 456]I am informed that the Bloodhound I and Thunderbird I missiles contain components incorporating United States classified information. I am quite sure that we could not agree to making the classified aspects of these weapons available to Finland.
Let me assure you that, although my conclusions differ from those you have made, I have studied this problem thoroughly and carefully.
Sincerely yours”
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 760E.5612/5–2262. Secret; Priority. Drafted by Christensen; cleared by Tyler, G/PM, and Bundy; and approved by Rusk. Repeated to Helsinki.↩