740.0011 European War 1939/17669
Memorandum by the Assistant Chief of the Division of European Affairs (Henderson)
Based upon Soviet performance in the Baltic States which yielded to Soviet demands for military and naval bases full credence should not be given to the statement of Mr. Maisky that “the Soviet Government in its negotiations with Finland in October–November 1939 and in the terms of the Soviet-Finnish Peace Treaty of March 1940 was actuated solely by the necessity for self-preservation”.57
Although in spite of its promises to the Baltic States that it would not infringe upon their integrity, the Soviet Government did not hesitate when the moment came to take full advantage of its bases in those countries in order to invade them, overthrow their Governments, and scatter the more intelligent sections of the population over Siberia and Asia.
- Ambassador Maisky’s statement was contained in a long, undated memorandum on Soviet-Finnish relations transmitted by Ambassador Winant from London on October 10, 1941, to the Secretary of State.↩