711.60D/6–2944
Memorandum by the Secretary of State to President Roosevelt
The principal basis for maintaining diplomatic relations with Finland has been the hope that we might be able to bring about Finland’s withdrawal from the war and from association with Germany. The Finnish Government has now, despite the last minute opposition of three important Finnish political parties and apparently without reference to the Finnish Parliament, entered into a hard and fast military association with Germany for the purpose of waging war. A copy of the Finnish official communiqué is attached.43
From the standpoint of interests of the United States in the foreign field and our foreign relations I believe that we must take some concrete action as a result of the Finnish Government’s decision. Two possible courses of action short of war are open to us:
- 1.
- A break in diplomatic relations.44 Consideration of foreign affairs would dictate this course because it would seem to be more consistent with our publicly declared attitude toward Finnish collaboration with Nazi Germany including the Tripartite Declaration on Satellite Nations. Should you, however, decide that a definitive rupture of relations is too drastic a step at this time we could limit our action to
- 2.
- Withdrawal from Helsinki of our entire Legation staff without breaking diplomatic relations. In such case the Finnish Legation in Washington would remain open but for security reasons would be deprived of code communication with Helsinki.
I believe that whichever course of action is determined upon should be undertaken as soon as possible in order that public opinion may understand clearly that such action is a direct result of the Finnish Government’s decision to bind itself to Germany.