239. Telegram From the Embassy in Finland to the Department of State0
207. Department telegram 96.1 I called on President Kekkonen this afternoon accompanied by Friberg as interpreter. Told him I was returning to Washington for consultation and volunteered take back any message he might want to convey.
He thanked me and said he first wanted say as Foreign Minister Merikoski said to Secretary Rusk in November [October]2 that he is gratified [Page 491] with direction in which Finnish-American relations have developed.
Next he turned to topic our last meeting (Embassy telegram 157),3 offer of favorable terms for procurement of arms. He has given matter great deal of thought and now believes that, because of Cuban situation, he will have postpone taking advantage of offer. Whenever it is considered, he fears leak will inevitably occur and, if it is considered now, Soviets might interpret US proposal as effort to follow up American success in Cuba by pushing into area close to Soviet Union. Soviets, he explained, are so suspicious that they react to much smaller moves and he is afraid Finland cannot afford take chance right now.
I asked President whether postponement meant that he was still interested in offer. He replied, “yes, but at time that would present more favorable opportunity.” He added that he wanted underscore that his actions were not prompted by anything said by Soviets to him or any other Finnish officials but that his decision was based on his personal weighing of risks and familiarity with Soviets.
President made some general comments about economic situation in Finland, saying it had slowed down but that developments were not too bad. Majority Cabinet had brought political peace in nation except for one question which was presently timely, matter of forest workers pay, which could cause government fall although he believed and hoped difficulties could be ironed out as it would be shame have government fall over such minor issue.
President said had found good deal of sympathy in France particularly on question of trade. De Gaulle had asked him how development of EEC had affected Finnish trade. He answered it had not affected Finnish trade as yet because Finland’s biggest competitors, Sweden and Austria, have been in same situation as Finland. De Gaulle promised keep that in mind in future.
Re his Soviet visit President said that he had already fully informed Foy Kohler in Moscow.4 He went on say, however, that Khrushchev had told him that he did not foresee trouble over Cuba. As to Berlin, Khrushchev had repeated his earlier harshly-worded stand for separate peace on Soviet conditions but had set no time limit. Khrushchev had said Soviets were not “prisoners of time.”
President said he had difficult task re Finno-Soviet trade. He had tried without success persuade Khrushchev agree handle payment negotiations separately from trade negotiations. Later on when trade negotiations [Page 492] were held in Finland, Soviets did give in. President explained that it would have been bad for employment in woodworking industry, which is already working at only 75 percent capacity, if some agreement could not have been reached on continued export Finnish forest products to Soviet Union. Soviets have now agreed maintain their imports up to five-year trade agreement level. Finns pressed for more payment in convertible currency in trade with Soviet Union but so far without success. Finns now getting about 9 million rubles in convertible currency but have asked Soviets raise this to 18 million to cover amounts Finns are obliged pay for electrical machinery and other equipment procured outside Finland for installation in icebreakers and other completed products exported to Soviet Union under trade agreement.
President said Khrushchev had made no reference to differences between China and Soviet Union. Kekkonen’s personal impression is that matters developing badly. He said that Khrushchev’s strong words on China were big surprise to him as, despite fact that differences existed, he did not expect them be brought out so openly. He added it obvious that big changes taking place in Chinese politics. He remarked that Soviets have problem of resisting pressure from China while trying maintain their position in West.
He offered opinion that despite Cuba and China’s reaction, Khru-shchev’s position had only become stronger, speculations in Western press notwithstanding. Khrushchev’s health was good, he added.
In course discussion, President referred to Kissinger “Nuclear Power and Foreign Policy”.5 He thought Kissinger’s ideas formed basis for much of U.S. strategy and preparedness and termed book very enlightening. He foresees difficulties in NATO countries accepting basis of this strategy, however. Kekkonen’s remarks re Rusk–Merikoski conversation gave me favorable opening raise with him Maakansa editorial of 28 September attacking U.S. handling of Cuba, about which Secretary Rusk had spoken to Merikoski (Embassy’s A–330).6 I explained that Finnish press is closely read in Department of State and that Maakansa known as organ close to government as is Paasikivi Society’s publication Ulkopolitikka (Foreign Policy). I added that article in Maakansa to my knowledge occasioned first protest ever made by us about Finnish newspaper item. President’s reaction was very conciliatory. He explained article had appeared while he was away and while chief editor Sorvali was away. As soon as Sorvali returned and learned what had happened, he called Kekkonen to express his regrets and promised convey those regrets to someone he knew in American Embassy. President [Page 493] said, “and I hope he has done this”. (Note: Up to today no expression of regret by Sorvali has been passed on to me.) President deplored incident, said that damaging accidents happen of which this was one and gave assurances it would not happen again.
As to publication Ulkopolitikka, President said he did not consider its articles too dangerous. It contained anti-German articles and other critical opinions similar to those expressed by some organs of British Labor Party but there was nothing really serious in them. Article in Maakansa was in another category, however, which he regrets. Perhaps, he added, this will be good lesson for chief editor, but it unfortunate that accident happened at such bad time.
In closing conversation President asked me convey his personal regards to President Kennedy and Secretary Rusk.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 760E.11/12–1462. Secret. Repeated to Bonn, London, Paris, and Moscow.↩
- Telegram 96, December 7, suggested that Gufler offer to discuss in Washington during a return for consultations any subjects that might be of interest to Kekkonen and to request any comments Kekkonen might make about his talks with other European leaders. (Ibid., 760E.11/12–562)↩
- See Document 236.↩
- Document 235.↩
- Kohler reported on his talk with Kekkonen in telegram 996 from Moscow, October 17. (Department of State, Central Files, 611.60E/10–1762)↩
- Reference is to Kissinger’s book published by the Council of Foreign Relations in 1957.↩
- Dated October 22. (Department of State, Central Files, 760E.12/10–2262)↩