File No. 860d.00/11
The Minister in Sweden (Morris) to the Secretary of State
[Received 9.06 p.m.]
1479. Your 531, February 8, 7 p.m. In my opinion civil war in Finland is likely to continue for some time. Swedish Government has not shown any signs of intervening while Smolny1 is sending active aid to the Reds. Arms are of course being smuggled across from here and a certain number of officers have gone over, but General Mannerheim will require time to organize his forces and he has not yet taken Tammerfors. Under these circumstances, I do not see the advantage and therefore do not recommend recognizing the independence of Finland, particularly as the Reds at Helsingfors would claim that their government should be recognized, since they hold the capital and all the important cities.
[Page 750]However, since the White government is now in control of the north, I think it would be both politic and humanitarian to allow a portion of the food mentioned in your 531, February 8, 7 p.m., to come forward via Narvik, as I can arrange matters as to stopping delivery at any time if the Whites should not make proper use of it.
- Smolny Institute was used by the Bolsheviks as their headquarters.↩