The Pittsburgh Press (January 14, 1945)
U.S. expected to end break with Finland
Two representatives sent to Helsinki
Washington (UP) –
The United States is expected to begin preparations soon for resumption of full diplomatic relations with Finland after a six-month break.
The actual restoration of normal relations and exchange of ministers plenipotentiary may be several months away, but the first step in that direction was taken yesterday with assignment of two foreign service officers to establish an American mission in Helsinki.
Upon their first reports probably will depend the decision whether to invite Finland to send similar representatives to this country preliminary to establishment of formal relations.
Finn sent home
It will be six months next Wednesday since the State Department denounced Finnish Minister Hjalmar L. Procope as persona non grata for “actions inimical” to the United States. This country formally severed relations with Finland June 20.
Maxwell M. Hamilton, former minister counsellor of the American Embassy in Moscow, will leave Washington soon to become the U.S. representative in Finland with personal rank of minister. He will be assisted by Randolph Higgs, who probably already has left Stockholm for Helsinki.
Never declared war
The United States never declared war on Finland, the break in relations having been followed within three months by Finland’s capitulation to the Russians and the signing of an armistice. But Russia and Great Britain are still technically at war with Finland pending completion of negotiations and signing the peace treaty.
The Soviet and British governments were advised in advance of the American decision to send two diplomats to Finland. Finland, however, was not. She learned of the decision through the department’s press announcement which was presumably forwarded to Finland through Switzerland, the protecting power for U.S. interests in Finland, or through Sweden, the protecting power for Finnish interests in this country.
Representatives there
There were no indications yet that the British and Soviet governments contemplate moves similar to that of the United States.
They have not restored diplomatic representation in Helsinki, but have representatives there as members of the Allied Control Commission, the body set up under the Soviet-British-Finnish armistice terms.