Office of the Historian

227. Telegram From the Military attache in Finland to the Department of the Army0

Helsinki, July 20, 1962, 10:30 a.m.

C–40. DEPTAR for ACSI, COFS USAF for AFCIN 1–D2, AFCIN–1Z–A. This is a joint Army, Navy, and Air Force message. State for EUR/BNA and ISA/DOD. (Immediately) Reference OUSARMA Finland msg C–39.1

1.

(S) Finland 3502 requested meeting with ARMA to discuss urgent topic. Source stated that he was acting as official spokesman for Chief of Staff, Lt Gen A A Maunula and made following remarks:

a.
Maunula considers it highly undesirable to purchase large quantities of Soviet mil equip for Finnish Army. Hopes that US equipment be made available.
b.
Maunula particularly pleased with approach thru mil channels and desires minimum political participation in purchase arrangements.
c.
Maunula desires to program purchases from US over extended period so that small numbers of US items can be included in series of supplemental budgets along with other foreign military items without giving impression of large US purchases.
d.
Maunula hopes favorable consideration may be given to Finnish request with items procured at lowest possible cost.

If purchases made, Chief of Staff considers it necessary to work out method of documentation in Washington between Finnish and US mil to eliminate possibility of anti-Western critics in Finland using public info on cost and quantity figures for propaganda purposes. [1–1/2 lines of source text not declassified]

2.
(U) SCP–1. Msg signed by Drain USARMA, Byrd ALUSNA and Melvia Actg USAIRA.
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 760E.56/7–2062. Secret; Noforn. Also sent to the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, the Chief of Naval Operations, and the Department of State. The source text is the Department of State copy.↩
  2. Not found.↩
  3. Not further identified.↩