File No. 860d.48/34a

The Secretary of State to the Chargé in Great Britain ( Laughlin)

[Telegram]

78. This Department believes that the accumulation of food in Finland, the delivery of which would be contingent upon the Finnish people breaking with the Germans, is inadvisable and would seem to imply that this Government is interested in Finland only in so far as it will serve as a pawn in the game of war against the Central Powers. As the Finnish Government seems to have committed itself definitely to cooperate with Germany, and is furthermore insisting at this time in taking over Russian territory, this Government believes a clear decision should be reached to send no foodstuffs to Finland.

Lansing