760d.61/40
Memorandum by the Minister in Poland (Gibson), temporarily at Washington
The Finnish Minister called this afternoon, stated that he has a telegram from his government to the effect that the Bolshevists are massing troops in eastern Karelia, and have reached a place called Uhtua.
The Finnish Government feels that it must make an early decision as to concluding peace with the Bolshevists, and is most anxious to have an expression from the Department as to the desirability of this course.
I told him that in view of the fact that this Government was not in a position to give material assistance, it would hardly feel warranted in offering advice as to the course to be pursued.
The Minister raised the question of sending American warships to the Gulf of Finland, saying that this would afford great moral support to the Finns. I told him I doubted very much whether we should be in a position to send any ships.
The Minister repeated what he said the other day, to the effect that his government had little faith in the observance of any treaty signed by the Soviet Government but that in the absence of some expressions of opinion tending to show that Finland was not abandoned by the Powers, radical clamor for peace negotiations might force the hand of the Government.