760d.61/505: Telegram
The Chargé in the Soviet Union (Thurston) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 29—8:50 p.m.]
964. I have just been advised by the Finnish Legation that the Finnish Minister was summoned to the Foreign Office at 10:30 tonight by Potemkin who handed to him a note stating that inasmuch as Finnish aggression against the Soviet military forces continues on the Karelian Isthmus and at other places and that this creates an intolerable situation, the responsibility for which rests exclusively with the Finnish Government, it is no longer possible for the Soviet Government to maintain relations with the Finnish Government and it is in consequence withdrawing government, political, and economic representatives from Finland.
The Finnish reply to the last Soviet note had in the meantime arrived and the Finnish Minister endeavored to present it. Potemkin stated that he would ascertain and notify the Finnish Minister as soon as possible whether it will still be acceptable. The reply I understand, while maintaining Finland’s denial of any acts of aggression, states that in the interests of peaceful relations the Finnish Government is, however, ready to withdraw its forces from the Finnish-Soviet frontier.
Repeated to Helsinki and to Riga for the information of Ambassador Steinhardt who is returning to Moscow by the most expeditious means.