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2110/456748-49

Memorandum of the German and Finnish Governments

secret
VLd (D)3270/40g 		Helsinki, October 1, 1940
 

Statements concerning contract No. 1187 of October 1, 1940, between the Finnish Ministry of Defense, Helsinki, and the firm of O.Y. Dahlberg & Hilbert A. B., Helsinki, P. Esplanaadik 33.
(1) The Finnish Ministry of Defense declared that it is obligated fully for the financial requirements of this contract in respect to the Greater German Reich and the firm of J. Veltjens Arms and Munitions [J. Veltjens Waffen und Munition A/G], Berlin-Charlottenburg 2, Berliner Strasse 165.
(2) Regarding the payment arrangements in this contract, it is possible that in view of developments in mutual trade and exchange of goods the Government Committees of the Greater German Reich and of the Finnish state may change the due dates of installments II and III of the payments.
(3) In connection with the installment due immediately the purchaser has the right to take into account the claims of the Finnish state arising from property belonging to the Finnish state taken over by the Greater German Reich in Norway, by counting such as a first payment, or as a payment in kind.
(4) All orders from Germany and the areas occupied by Germany, which, according to the list of items, are covered by this contract, are to be treated by the parties to the contract in such a manner that the secrecy of these transactions is preserved.
(5) A part of the deliveries of arms provided for in the above-mentioned contract are supplied in return for the transit of German supplies and German troops through Finland to Norway. The total amount and the extent of the arms deliveries are still to be determined by the Greater German Reich.
(6) The requirements of the Greater German Reich from the Finnish state in connection with the transit (money, goods, or special services) will immediately following calculation and approval be put on the deliveries account in connection with contract No. 1187 of October 1, 1940, between the Finnish Ministry of Defense and the firm of O.Y. Dahlberg & Hilbert A.B. Accounting will take place monthly.
(7) The Finnish state pledges itself to grant to the Greater German Reich a right of pre-emption for the same consideration as might be asked of or offered by any other interested party, on any concessions in Finland of interest to the Greater German Reich, in so far as the Finnish state intends to offer these abroad at all and in so far as the Finnish state is subject to no previous commitment. The foregoing pledge of the Finnish state is to be valid until October 1, 1945.
(8) With regard to the provision in contract No. 1187 of October 1, 1940, between the Finnish Ministry of Defense and the firm of O.Y. Dahlberg & Hilbert A.B. regarding an arbitral tribunal the following is agreed:
The arbitral tribunal shall be composed of the Minister of the Greater German Reich in Helsinki, the Minister of the Finnish state in Berlin, and a chairman to be chosen by the two Ministers.
(9) Two copies of this statement have been prepared, one for the Government of the Greater German Reich and one for the Government of the Finnish state.

As Special Representative
of the Greater German Reich:
J. Veltjens
For the Government
of the Republic of Finland:
R. Walden
Minister of Defense
Major General

Source: Documents on German foreign policy, Series D, XI, Nr. 139, HMSO, London 1961.

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