Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, 1918, Russia, Volume II
File No. 861.007724
The Ambassador in Russia ( Francis ) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 27.]
Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith, as of valuable interest to the Department, copies of three recent communications from Mr. Douglas Jenkins, American Consul temporarily detailed to Helsingfors, [Page 729] Finland, relative to the political and financial situation in that province. The communications are dated October 5, 11,1 and 12 respectively.
I have [etc.]
The American Consul at Helsingfors ( Jenkins ) to the American Ambassador in Russia ( Francis )
Sir: In an order recently published by the commandant of the Sveaborg fortress here advising the families of all Russian officials to leave because of the scarcity of food, it was intimated very strongly that while it was possible to obtain accommodations on the railways at present, conditions in the near future might be such that no one would be able to get away from Helsingfors.
I am arranging to have a translation of this order made and will forward it to the Embassy as soon as it has been done.1 While it is not clear just what the commandant means the inference is that an attack on the part of the Germans is expected on the Finnish coast, in the event of which the railways would have so much to do in the movement of troops and military supplies that no civilian passengers could be carried.
It is possible, of course, that in his desire to induce the families of Russian officials to leave, the commandant may have intimated a little more than was actually necessary. At any rate I shall pay close attention to the situation and keep the Embassy informed, either by post or by telegraph.
The elections for the Finnish Diet on October 2 passed off quietly. The returns, which have begun to come in, indicate that the Social Democrats will not have a majority in the next Diet, but this cannot be definitely stated until the final results are announced, which will be in the next week or ten days.
The Socialist members of the old Diet convened on September 27 in spite of the orders of the Governor General. The doors to the chamber had been locked and sealed by order of the Governor General, but the president of the Diet, Mr. Manner, ordered the seals to be broken and the doors forced. This was done and the Diet immediately convened. Only the Socialist members, however, attended, and it is said that a quorum was not present.
The Governor General did not attempt to use force to prevent the meeting of the Diet, and as a result there was no disorder. It is said that the Provisional Government will consider all acts of this Diet as illegal and void. It is not very clear just why the old Diet insisted on meeting at this time, unless it is with the intention of contesting the election of the newly elected Diet. It is possible that the old Diet intends to take the position that the elections of October 2 were illegal and void and that the new members, in the event of an anti-socialist majority, have no right to their seats.
So far as can be seen there is no indication of any improvement in the discipline in the fleet here. On the battleships and larger cruisers conditions are said to be very bad. On the submarines and smaller vessels, however, the morale is reported to be fairly satisfactory.
It may be interesting to note that at a meeting of the local Council of Soldiers’, Sailors’ and Workmen’s Deputies, which was convened to elect delegates to the Democratic Congress in Petrograd, a quorum was not present. In [Page 730] spite of this fact, however, the meeting proceeded to elect delegates. The executive committee of the Council also appears to have transacted business of importance without a quorum. This information comes from the publication of the minutes of the various meetings in the official organ of the Council. These failures to have a quorum may or may not indicate an interest on the part of the members of the Council themselves.
With regard to pro-German feeling among the Finnish people, I am informed by Mr. Arthur Ruhl, of Collier’s Weekly, that in a conversation he had several days ago with a Mr. von Franckel, one of the leaders of the Swedish People’s Party here, Mr. von Franckel said with a good deal of feeling that the Allies had never done anything for Finland and never would, either at the peace conference or elsewhere. He said Finland had one good friend and that friend was Germany. It appears, however, that Mr. von Franckel was educated in Germany and spent much time there. He is also evidently a man of extreme prejudices. The majority of the Swedish Finns, while all are more or less in sympathy with the idea of independence from Russia, do not appear to share Mr. von Franckel’s extreme views. They take the position that it would be much against Finland’s interests to push matters to the extent of an actual rupture with Russia.
In conversation with a Finn who had spent a great many years in America, I was told that among the middle and working classes in Finland there was only good feeling toward the United States. This man said that pro-German feeling was only to be found among the professional classes and the merchants.
The following from the Helsingfors Svenska Tidningen of September 15, 1917, may be of interest to the Embassy:
espionage flourishes
According to report there is being formed in Helsingfors at present an English-French espionage department. It is said that assiduous attempts are being made to recruit natives of Finland for the service. Again a clear proof of the unselfish interest on the part of the western powers for the welfare of the small peoples!
I expect to forward this letter to the Embassy by Mr. Ruhl, who is leaving to-morrow.
I have [etc.]
The American Consul at Helsingfors ( Jenkins ) to the American Ambassador in Russia ( Francis )
Sir: With regard to the recent elections to the Finnish Diet, it may interest the Embassy to know that the Socialists lost 12 seats and the Christian Workmen 1 seat. The United Finnish Party gained 6 seats, and the Agrarian Party 7. The Swedish People’s Party remains the same with 21 seats.
The comparative standing of the several parties in the old and new Diets is as follows:
| Old Diet | New Diet | |
| Socialists | 103 | 91 |
| United Finnish Party | 56 | 62 |
| Swedish People’s Party | 21 | 21 |
| Agrarian Party | 19 | 26 |
| Christian Workmen | 1 | -- |
| 200 | 200 |
It is believed that all parties will generally be united in opposition to the Socialists, at least on important questions. The United Finnish and the [Page 731] Swedish People’s Parties are said to represent the upper and middle classes, while the Agrarians are made up of small landowners and to a certain extent farm laborers, who are said to feel that their interests are not in line with the policies of the Socialists. In a sense the Agrarians will hold the balance of power.
In view of the fact that the Socialists refused to recognize the order of the Provisional Government which prohibited the old Diet from meeting and ordered the election, the next move of that party is now being awaited with interest, in view of the fact that it has evidently lost control as a result of the recent election.
Some people believe that the Socialists will take the ground that the election was illegal and that therefore the old Diet is the only legally constituted one. Others point out that as the Socialists actually took part in the election such a position on the part of the old Diet would be illogical. However, it remains to be seen whether or not any radical move will be undertaken. I shall watch the newspapers, especially those of the Socialist Party, and will keep the Embassy informed.
I have [etc.]