Foreign Service Despatch from H. Bartlett Wells to Department of State, with Attached Memorandum

SECURITY INFORMATION DO NOT TYPE IN THIS SPACE (Classification) 711.11-FR/8-2952 of FOREIGN SERVICE DESPATCH FROM AMLEGATION, HELSINKI 143 August 29, 1952 : DESP. NO. DATE AIR POUCH TO : THE DEPARTTMENT OF STATE, WASHINGTON. PRIORITY 23 REF Legation's Despatch No. 124 of August 21, 1952 : DECLASSIFIED For Dept. Use Only SUBJECT: Miss TRUMAN's Visit R SEP Authority E.O. 10501 E 3 C Miss Margaret Truman arrived in Helsinki from Stockholm D aboard the new Finnish passenger vessel "Aallotar" at 11:00 AM on August 21. She was accompanied by Mrs. John E. Hortono She A s/S=PR C was met at the boat by the American Minister and Mrs. T Second Secretary Witt, Service Attaches, and Mr. K.D. Somerto, EUR Acting Finnish Chief of Protocol. Upon leaving the vessel, she I SY O was hailed by friendly cheers from a crowd of several hundred N people. I TR Miss Truman and Mrs. Horton were brought to the American N Legation residerce. After lunch with the Cabots and Legation F officers, Miss Truman received press representatives, to whom O she spoke candidly yet with skillful tact. The Associated Press representative, explaining in obvious embarrassment that she brought up this matter only at the express direction of her head office, asked Miss Truman to comment on the Stockholm press reports alleging arrogant treatment of a photographer by one of the Secret Service men accompanying her partyo Miss Truman replied that this was a case of much ado about nothing, and indicated that no one had been insulted, threatened, forbidden to enter the Stockholm City Hall (within which she had been at the time), or prevented from taking photographs. During the evening of August 21 the Minister and Mrs. Cabot RECORDE SERVICES entertained Miss Truman at an informal dinner party with dancing to at the country residence built by the famous Finnish architect, the late Eliel Saarinen. There were about 100 guests in all. Preceding dinner a group from the well-known Finnish University Chorus sang a number of Finnish songs and presented her with a number of gramophone records made by the chorus. On August 22 Miss Truman met at noon all members of the staff of the American Legation who might presumably have no other opportunity to make her acquaintance during the course of the visit. At 3:00 PM on the same day she visited President and Mrs. Paasikivi for tea at the Palace in Helsinki. Among those present on this occasion were the American Minister and Mrs. Cabot: Mrs. Horton; the Foreign Minister and Mrs. Tuomioja; and Mrs. Erkko, the wife of a former Foreign Minister, Eljas Erkko (publisher of "Helsingin Sanomat") The President, who is well HBWells/eld ED NON RECORD - REPORTERT DECI ASSIFIED SECURITY INFORMATION COPY TIME 3 Authority E.O. 10501 INFORMATION COPY REGISTER NUMBER