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vice on foreign soil. However, the Department of
State had no objection to the buying of certain kinds
of supplies in America, and even admitted that
individual Americans could secure passports for
journeys to Europe. If they later volunteered in the
Winter War in Finland, that was no concern of the
American authorities. I cannot help laughing when
I think of the reaction of my friends in Sweden when
I informed them of the attitude of the American
authorities. One Swedish participant suggested that
I persuade Congress to change the American laws!
It shows both how great an enthusiasm inspired
them, and how little knowledge of American
procedures they possessed.
After consultation with the principals in Sweden,
I agreed to try to collect money with which to buy
airplanes urgently needed by the Finnish army. I was
also requested to engage experienced pilots who were
willing to volunteer for service in the Finnish Air
Force.
At least we now had some foundation ọn which
to build, and I continued my negotiations in
Washington. I received a great deal of help from Lord
Lothian, then the British Ambassador. He was
sympathetic with our cause and declared that if the
pilots came to Canada, he would grant them visas to
England, and in that way they could reach Finland
via Sweden.
During earlier visits to America I had come to
know many people, several of whom were members
of banking and industrial circles. I now began to
call upon the most influential and wealthy American
businessmen. In spite of the fact that they had great
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