Abstract: A finish composition for a precursor for high-performance carbon fibers, containing (1) 0.2-10 parts by weight of an aminocarboxylic material selected from the group consisting of carboxylic acid salts of alkylamines, carboxylic acid salts of arylamines, carboxylic acid salts of alkylarylamines, amino acids and betaine compounds, and (2) 100 parts by weight of a mixture of (a) 80-20 parts by weight of a finish prepared by adding, to (i) a silicone finish containing 50 wt % or more of an amino-modified polysiloxane having a nitrogen content in amino groups in the range of 0.05-2.0 wt % and a viscosity at 25.degree. C. of 500 centistokes or more, (ii) 0.3-5.0 molar equivalents of a lower aliphatic monocarboxylic acid of 6 carbon atoms or less with respect to 1 mole of the amino group, and (b) 20-80 parts by weight of a nonionic emulsifier consisting mainly of a polyoxyethylene alkyl ether, a polyoxyethylene alkylaryl ether or a polyoxyethylene fatty acid ester.