File No. 861.00/1122
The Minister in Sweden (Morris) to the Secretary of State
[Received February 20, 1.35 a.m.]
1533. Minister of Marine informed me to-day regarding the Aland Islands that he had ordered Swedish vessels sent there for [Page 753] the purpose of taking away the Russian garrison and Swedish and Finnish refugees. They may be [plan] to land the Finns who are Whites in northern Finland and bring Swedes and Russians to Sweden where Russians will be placed under guard on an island. He also stated that they would give arms to the islanders so as to enable them to defend themselves against the Bolsheviks and Red Guards who cross over from Finland.
The above would seem to indicate that the Swedish Government intends to take over the islands eventually in accordance with the desires of the population as expressed by the confederations [deputations] sent here some weeks ago.