File No. 860d.00/145
The Consul at Helsingfors (Haynes) to the Secretary of State2
[Received May 17, 1918, 8.47 a.m.]
The principal cause for the present revolution was the hopeless [Page 787] state of food question and distrust of laboring class against bourgeoisie not providing food either from Russia or United States. Had food arrived according to my November and December telegrams, the Red Guard, amounting to 10,000, including Reds from Russia, would have been easily controlled by legal Finnish government and no German help would have been needed. Probably government would have won by arbitration with Reds.
To preserve independence against probable rising in Russia the local press is discussing alliance with Germany and some German prince for Finnish King. Recently monarchial tendencies relaxed. Leading organ Young Finnish Party decidedly republican, as well as most provincial bourgeois newspapers, which claim full neutral republic.
Diet meets 15th May. The affirming [after?] expulsion 80 [in] subordinate members who joined rebels, the Diet will be about half full; 108 bourgeois and 10 Socialists. The Diet will discuss new constitution, neutrality, and treaty with Germany. Young Finnish Party urging elections for the control of such questions, others opposing fearing Socialist propaganda during the elections.
Sixty per cent population are still pro-Allies. Socialist press wholly suppressed at present and bourgeois press not daring to express their feeling toward Allies, the majority intentionally treating Germany as the savior of the country.
Recently public opinion is changing. There is disappointment with Germany in her inability to furnish food for their compensation in butter, (?), tea, copper, which are greatly needed here in Finland but are now seized in stores. Because of hunger, the government is compelled to exchange these goods for grain from Germany. As Germans are stationed only in southern Finland and Finnish government consents to full American control of distribution, I believe shipment American grain would be advisable.
Lately pleasing changes in attitude of the newspapers toward Russia. In the first days of German invasion local newspapers discussed the question of attacking Russia and conquering Russian Karelia and Kola Peninsula. Now the government declares Finnish army is not operating in Russian Karelia and only small detachment from Finland has crossed frontier at the request of the population to aid against the Russian Reds. All newspapers are warning the country against a conflict with England if Murman Railway was taken or Russia attacked. The newspapers advise treaty with Russia and the solution of the Russian Karelia [question] by friendly agreement.
- Sent via the Legation in Sweden (No. 2095, May 16).↩