860d.01/10: Telegram

The Commission to Negotiate Peace to the Acting Secretary of State

988. My 868, February 22, 5 p.m. Hoover2 states that 14,000,000 dollar credit in National City Bank in favor of Bank of Helsingfors would be available for food purchases for Finland3 if American Government should grant provisional recognition Finnish Government. Mission believes British and French inclined to favor such a step. However Mission feels that general elections, expected to take place March 1st, can alone determine whether present Government has people’s mandate. In event election results in clear manifestation of public will, Mission is disposed to raise without delay question of provisional recognition by Associated Governments. What are Department’s views? Lansing.

Am[erican] Mission
  1. Herbert C. Hoover, U.S. Food Administrator.
  2. See also Foreign Relations, 1918, Supplement 2, pp. 572588.