Office of the Historian

229. Telegram from the Embassy in Finland to the Department of State0

Helsinki, July 30, 1962, 7 p.m.

41. Embtel 40.1 Following his call on Merikoski, O’Neill had appointment with Foreign Office Permanent Official Jakobson, who gave him following information, with authorization to pass it on to me. O’Neill requests, however, that discretion be used in handling this background information particularly in view frank discussion views of President Kekkonen.

Action withdrawing application for purchase guided missiles was President’s idea and taken on his initiative after consultation with Finnish [Page 474] personalities concerned. President apparently motivated at least in part by concern he feels as result information he has received from Finn representatives abroad regarding reaction in interested free world countries to occurrences surrounding Novosibirsk meeting and by circumstance that this reaction appears have become entangled with question modernization Finnish armed forces. He therefore apparently considers it imprudent pursue matter at least for time being. His outstanding motivations for dropping it now are: (1) wish demonstrate that Finland made request freely and is free to withdraw it, and (2) belief it advisable, in view long delay in bringing matter to satisfactory conclusion, withdraw request in order remove any grounds Russians might feel application gives them press Finland for an answer or for action one way or another about it.

I believe this action will disappoint many elements Finland that want proceed with modernization armed forces from genuine desire increase Finland’s ability defend itself and thus strengthen its independent position. Military circles in particular will probably not be satisfied indefinitely with suspension modernization and will likely at some time that may seem feasible to them again press civilians reopen question treaty revision.2

Gufler
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 760E.5612/7–3062. Secret. Repeated to London, Moscow, Stockholm, Copenhagen, Oslo, Reykjavik, and Paris.↩
  2. Telegram 40, July 30, transmitted the text of a Finnish aide-memoire to the British Government that announced Finland’s decision to withdraw its application to the Soviet Union for the purchase of guided missiles. (Ibid.)↩
  3. In telegram 53 from Helsinki, August 3, Gufler reported that Jakobson had summoned him to the Foreign Office and repeated the information given to British Embassy officer O’Neill. (Ibid., 760E.5612/8–362)↩