Your telegram 30th March No. 79. Finland. [2] Your paragraph one.

For latest developments see my telegram of to-day No. D. 538,
paragraph 3 [3] of which contains the reminder that any armistice
should expressly cover Australia and other members of the British
Commonwealth at war with Finland.

2. Your paragraph two. See paragraph 4 of my D. No. 538. [4] It is
not yet clear whether any armistice Commission will be set up for
Finland nor, if this is done, what provision will be made for
representation of countries other than Union of Soviet Socialist
Republics. In this connection please see paragraph 3 of my
telegram, 12th February, No. 45. [5]

3. Your paragraph 3. We recognise that many questions must wait
for comprehensive settlement when hostilities have ceased
everywhere. We think, however, that each case will have to be
considered on its merits as it arises and that, in particular,
distinction can be drawn between minor European enemy countries
and Germany. Where a problem is reasonably self-contained, as in
the case of Finland, we see advantage in attempting an early
solution. In this case, moreover, we are bound to recognise the
predominant interest of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

If they or Finland are anxious to conclude a peace treaty we do
not feel that the British Commonwealth interest is large enough to
justify our opposing their views.