760d.61/588: Telegram
The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Steinhardt) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 3—12:35 a.m.]
1005. A statement has just been broadcast over the Moscow radio announcing the signing today8 of a pact of mutual assistance and friendship between the Soviet Union and the Finnish Democratic Republic. The pact was signed by Molotov on behalf of the Presidium of Supreme Soviet of the U. S. S. R. and by Kuusinen on behalf of the Finnish Democratic Republic. It was stated that the negotiation of the pact took place in the presence of Stalin, Voroshilov,9 and Zhdanov.10 The eight articles of the pact may be tentatively summarized as follows:11
- 1.
- The Soviet Union transfers to Finland that part of Karelia inhabited by Karelians the area of which is 70,000 square kilometers. Finland cedes to the Soviet Union the Karelian Isthmus embracing an area of 3,970 square kilometers. The Soviet Union pays to Finland 120,000,000 Finnish marks as compensation for the railways included in this cession.
- 2.
- Finland leases to the Soviet Union for 30 years the Hango Peninsula and immediately adjacent areas for use as a naval base with the right by the Soviet Union to maintain thereon a strictly limited air force. Finland sells to the Soviet Union the islands of Hogland, Seiskari, Lavansaari, Tytärsaari—both great and little, and Koivisto as well as the Rybachi Peninsula and another unidentified island for 300,000,000 Finnish marks.
- 3.
- Finland and the Soviet Union pledge themselves to mutual assistance including military aid and to prevent their territories from being used for military operations against the other on the part of any European country whatsoever.
- 4.
- Neither party is to enter into an alliance against the other.
- 5.
- The contracting parties will negotiate a commercial treaty at the earliest possible date providing for an annual trade between them to exceed that of 1927 in which year the value of this trade reached 800,000,000 Finnish marks.
- 6.
- The Soviet Union undertakes to furnish Finland military supplies and material.
- 7.
- Articles 3, 4, and 5 are to run for 25 years from the date of signature of the treaty and unless denounced before the expiration of that period will continue in effect automatically for an additional period of 25 years.
- 8.
- The pact enters into effect upon signature and the exchange of ratifications is to take place as soon as possible in the capital of Finland, Helsinki.