611.60D31/7–1645: Telegram
The United States Representative in Finland (Hamilton) to the Secretary of State
[Received 2:26 p.m.]
380. Re Stockholm’s 83, July 12.58 Have in mind, subject to any instructions which Dept may send, saying to Gartz when he next talks with me I will, of course, forward to American Govt for its consideration and without commitment such names as Finnish Govt may list as desiring to send USA to discuss commerce and trade matters. I would say also that speaking entirely personally and on my own initiative I raise question whether sending of persons whose name prominently associated with Finance Ministry and Bank of Finland would not inevitably give rise to public misunderstanding and expectation that Finnish Govt had in mind obtaining substantial credits and financial assistance from United States. As I had many times mentioned to Finnish officials, credits the effect of which would be directly or indirectly to finance reparations presented very serious difficulties. It seemed to me obviously better to handle mutters so that erroneous public impressions would not be created. As I told Gartz when he raised this question again on June 18 and proposed giving me names of two or three individuals with lists of specific projects, I would forward such proposal to my Govt for consideration but I did not know what my Govt’s attitude would be. I had thought Finnish Govt would present [Page 652] list of specific projects such as Finland’s desire to receive some automotive equipment or special products or to sell wood pulp, with names of technical experts specially qualified to discuss such matters.59
Repeated to Stockholm as my 85 and to Moscow as my 93.