Evening star., 1941-11-07

fThe tert OF the memorandum
OF the conversation bet11een Un-
dersecretdry OF State WeAes and
Finnish Minister Hjalmar Pro-
cope regarding peace opertureS in
the conflict Uith Russia tollo,DS:
The Minister of Finland called to
see me this afternoon at my request.
I told the Minister that I wished
to inform him in the utmost con-
fidence that this Government had
received information to the effect
that should the government of Fin
land be so disposed, the Soviet gov
emment was prepared to negotiate
a new treaty of peace with Finland
which would involve the making OF
territorial concessions by the Soviet
Union to Finland.
I said that l was communicating
this information as transmitting
agent and that at the moment / was
expressing no official opinion with
regard thereto. I said that I wished
to make it. however, completely clear
that the information / was giving
the minister implied in no sense
whatever any weakening on the part
of the Soviet government.
Questions Raised.
I said that, from the Ofhcial state
ments made to us by the Soviet
Union and from every other evidence
available to this Government, the
Soviet government is not only re-
sistins magnificently German ag-
gression against Russia but is like
wise prepared to fight indefinitely
against Germany, and that from our
knowledge Of the military situation
there seemed every reason to suppose
that Russia may do so successfully
and for a protracted period. l said
that this information referred solely
to Finland and should consequently
be viewed solely in that light.
The minister at once raised GER
tain obvious questions. First, in
view of the experience Finland had
had with the Soviet Union in 1899
what guarantees would Great Brit
ain and the United States offer Fin
land that any peace treaty which
the Soviet Union might now be dis
posed to negotiate would be main
tanned? Second, what assurance
would Finland be given that, in the
event that Germany was defeated
and the Soviet Union were to be-
come the predominant military
power. Russia would respect any
promises which Great Britain OF
the United States might have made
and would not again undertake tC
seize Finland and deprive the Fin
nish people Of their independence?
Attitude Of Finland.
replied that these questions
were questions which I was not pre-
pared to discuss. I said it seemed tc
me, first of all, that it was neces-
sarv TO determine what the attitude
of Finland might be with regard to
the possibilities which I had COM
municated to the Minister and that
consequently the questions which
he had raised were questions which
need only come up for discussion ir
the event that the Government OF
Finland desired to explore these
possibilities
said further that it appeared Il
me that the question was mo.
mentous one for the Finnish gov
eminent to determine. added thai
in view Of the considerations th'
Minister had advanced I wondered
what guarantees or assurances Fin
land thought she would have of re.
| tanning her own independence ant
! autonomy if Germany succeeded IL
winning and were then the over
lord of all of Europe. I said tina
in such event Finland could look Il
no one for assistance whereas i
Germany were defeated she woult
have many extremely powerful
friends on her side.
Hull-Procope Talk.
The State Departments mem0ran
dunn on the talk betlDeen Secretdrl
Hull and Minister Procope tollo,Os
The Minister of Finland called a
my request. I proceeded at once Il
| say that it was unnecessary to g,
over the pros and cons of the situa
ton as the war relates to FINLAND
and the United States or to tn
likes and dislikes Of either govern
ment with respect to Stain ant
Hitler or their respective countries
I said that as heretofore statet
by me to the Minister. am glad Il
see Finland recover her lost terri
tory. NY Government, and countr,
and I have been loyal friends o
| Finland and would like very mucl