760d.61/878: Telegram
The Minister in Finland (Schoenfeld) to the Secretary of State
[Received 8:15 p.m.]
483. At the request of Prime Minister Ryti I called on him today. He told me that the military situation continued satisfactory. Nevertheless he was deeply concerned by inevitable Finnish losses though they were very small in comparison with those of the Russians who he said had no regard for the lives of their own soldiers. In the Petsamo area which was considered by the Finnish authorities as unimportant strategically, the Russians had withdrawn. In the central area they had recently suffered heavy defeats and were being harassed with succcess by light Finnish forces during their retreat. Heavy Russian attacks continued in the south but were everywhere repulsed by the Finnish troops who were inflicting heavy losses.
Large shipments of guns and ammunition were coming forward especially from Britain while others were expected from France. Christmas holidays had slowed down movement of Swedish volunteers of whom only about 2,000 were now in this country but larger numbers were expected soon.
After these preliminary statements the Prime Minister introduced the main topic he had in mind. He said the Swedish Government had suggested to the Finnish Government very recently that another démarche be made by the former at Moscow with a view to stopping hostilities. Before taking a position on this suggestion which the Prime Minister felt offered little prospect of success in view of the Soviet Government’s previous disdainful attitude towards Sweden [Page 1036] Mr. Ryti desired me to inquire of you in confidence whether our Government would be disposed to consider favorably a request from the Finnish Government that the United States initiate a general démarche for peace at Moscow by any governments prepared to cooperate in such action including not only belligerents, but also neutrals. He mentioned the Scandinavian countries, Italy, and Japan and said that he was even thinking of the possibility that the United States might approach the German Government. Though the latter’s attitude toward Finland was unfriendly and he had no illusions as to its willingness if approached by the United States to participate in such a démarche at Moscow he felt it might be worth while to make this approach because of Germany’s presumed influence with the Soviet Government. Incidentally, the Prime Minister said Ribbentrop had been asked by the Soviet Government to recognize the puppet government of Kuusinen and had stated at first that Germany might do so if the city of Viborg should fall to the Russians but more recently that it was not intended for the present to recognize that government in any case.
The Prime Minister said he looked upon the present situation as dual in its nature. On the one hand Finland must concentrate all its efforts upon securing the means for continued effective resistance to the Russian attack. On the other hand the diplomatic and political problems must be dealt with in the light of the interests and policies of other countries and this depended upon general developments which would be slow to mature.
Mr. Ryti said he had been informed that heavy movements of troops and material were going southward from Moscow but he had no authentic explanation of the reasons for these movements.
I told the Prime Minister I would telegraph you his inquiry and advise him of your reply without delay. I asked Mr. Ryti whether he had any reason to believe the Soviet Government was open to any suggestion for a peaceful settlement in view of its consistent attitude exemplified most recently following the meeting of the Council of the League of Nations. He said he had private information that the Soviet Government was seeking a way out of the present difficulties without further loss of prestige. It is my impression that if your answer is favorable it would be valued here more highly than anything of the kind that could be done by any other Government friendly to Finland and that in the Finnish view the action which might follow would have greater prospects for success.