Foreign Relations of the United States, 1961–1963, Volume XVI, Eastern Europe; Cyprus; Greece; Turkey

233. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Finland⁰

Washington, September 8, 1962, 12:54 p.m.

55. Department considering how best proceed with plans to facilitate Finnish purchases in US of weapons not prohibited by Peace Treaty. Purpose of this action essentially to bolster position and determination of Finnish military, as one of the strongest pro-Western elements in Finland, and also to strengthen Finnish will to resist Soviet political and economic pressure. Embassy views requested on following:

1. In view of Finland’s public policy of neutrality no military aid type program for Finland is envisaged, no firm offer of military aid would be made, and no military or political commitment involved. It would, therefore, seem preferable to deal directly with the Finns at the Service level, and, in view of the missiles affair, to do so now (Embtel 59).¹ We would suggest to Finnish military authorities that we are prepared, in event Finns wish to purchase military items, to be accommodating with respect to terms and arrangements which take into account Finland’s special geographic and political position. We could inquire about list of military items which we understand Finns interested in buying from US.

2. This action could be taken with the Finnish Military attache in Washington by officials in DOD/ISA. Approach could also be made in Helsinki by Army attache directly with his Finnish military contacts. It might be desirable discuss directly with General Simelius perhaps ini-tially in Helsinki by the Army attache and then during his visit to US in October.

3. It may also be useful for Ambassador to inform Kekkonen (before his visit to USSR) along similar lines either before or after conversation with Simelius. This may, as suggested in Embtel 96,² demonstrate our interest in Finland’s future, and while we have not, and do not now, look with favor on recent Finnish actions vis-à-vis the Soviet Union our willingness to make US military equipment available to Finland should serve to convince Kekkonen that he and Finland are not deserted by the West. It may also as suggested by the Embassy give useful opportunity to warn Kekkonen of dangers in placing too much reliance on USSR as source of weapons supply. Kekkonen would be informed that we are discussing subject directly with the Finnish military authorities, and that we are thinking in terms of Service to Service, and insofar as practicable, unpublicized transactions.

Rusk

0. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 760E.5/8–662. Secret. Drafted by Christensen; cleared by G/PM, PRCS, and the Department of Defense; and approved by Burdett. Repeated to London.
1. Document 230.
2. Telegram 96, August 24, reported that Gufler was seeking to arrange a series of meetings with Kekkonen to counter misimpressions of U.S. policy objectives in Finland. (Department of State, Central Files, 760E.11/8–2462)