President Roosevelt's statement on
December 1,1939

The news of the Soviet naval and military bombings within Finnish territory has come as a profound shock to the Government and people of the United States. Despite efforts made to solve the dispute by peaceful methods to which no reasonable objection could be offered, one power has chosen to resort to force of arms. It is tragic to see the policy of force spreading, and to realize that wanton disregard for law is still on the march. All peace-loving peoples in those nations that are still hoping for the continuance of relations throughout the world on the basis of law and order will unanimously comdemn this new resort to military force as the arbiter of international differences.

To the great misfortune of the world, the present trend to force makes insecure the independent existence of small nations in every continent and jeopardizes the rights of mankind to self-government. The people and government of Finland have a long, honorable and wholly peaceful record which has won for them the respect and warm regard of the people and Government of the United States.

This statement was read by President Roosevelt in press conference #602, Executive Offices of the White House, December 1, 1939, 10:40 A.M.

The stenographic transcript is documented in Complete Presidential Press Conferences of Franklin D. Roosevelt, 1933-1945 (Da Capo Press, 1972).

The denial of civilian bombings by Vyacheslav Molotov, People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs. Dec. 4, 1939.

President Roosevelt's message to the Soviet government through the U.S. Ambassador Lawrence Steinhardt on Dec. 11, 1939.

A telegram by K.A. Umanskii, the Soviet plenipotentiary to USA, to the People's Commissariat for Foreign Affairs, 2 December 1939. In Russian.

President Roosevelt's statement at the end of hostilities, March 13, 1940.

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