760D.61/1223: Telegram
The Minister in Sweden (Sterling) to the Secretary of State
[Received March 7—4:18 p.m.]
114. Have just seen Erkko. He gave me the following under promise of absolute secrecy.
In the past few weeks approaches have been made by the Soviet Government to Finland for peace negotiations but pending the possibility of obtaining effective help from Sweden and later from the [Page 299] Allies, the Russian terms which were very drastic had been rejected. As time went on and all hope abandoned for direct military aid from Sweden and latterly from the Allies because of Sweden’s refusal to permit the transit of troops, together with the increasingly critical military situation, the Finnish Government had reconsidered its attitude and had suggested a truce while negotiations could be carried on. This was refused by the Soviets. Yesterday the Finnish Government decided that no relief being in sight it should accept the Russian invitation to send envoys to Moscow. They arrived here late last night and flew to Moscow this morning. They include Tanner75 and Paasikivi76 among others.
Erkko said that he could not divulge the exact details of the Russian demands so far formulated but they were generally as severe as those of last November and included Hango. The Finnish Government felt it was better to submit to even drastic demands than to have Finland wiped off the map. Hitler’s attitude he had ascertained was entirely negative in this crisis; he was even stating that Finland deserved what she was getting.
Erkko was very despondent. He was bitter at Sweden’s attitude not only for failing to come to Finland’s aid but for using strong pressure on Finland to make terms at almost any price. He realized the position of President Roosevelt regarding any further démarche to the Soviet Government but wondered if there were not some means whereby Russian demands could be softened. Repeat to Paris.