760D.61/1229: Telegram
The Minister in Sweden (Sterling) to the Secretary of State
Stockholm, March 8,
1940—11 a.m.
[Received March 8—10:35 a.m.]
[Received March 8—10:35 a.m.]
115. I had a further conversation with Erkko this morning in which I conveyed the substance of your 44, March 7, 9 p.m.;80 he was deeply appreciative.
He brought out several points of interest:
- (1)
- Contrary to current rumors, the Swedish Government has not acted as intermediary in the negotiations except to transmit a month ago an informal message from the Soviet Government that the latter was ready to receive proposals from Finland. As it was learned [Page 302] that Russia still had in mind her original demands no reply was made by Finland to this approach. Since then Sweden has taken no part in the Russo-Finnish conversations but nevertheless exerting strong pressure on the Finnish Government through the Swedish Minister at Helsinki81 to come to terms.
- (2)
- The Allies have notified the Finnish Government that it must decide before March 12 whether or not it will accept the Russian terms; otherwise after that date Allied assistance to Finland will stop.
- (3)
- As mentioned in my 114 of yesterday, Hitler is assuming an antagonistic attitude toward Finland, claiming Finland is showing no gratitude for Germany’s help in Finland’s civil war of 1918. Goering on whom Finland had built hopes was taking his orders from higher up.
- (4)
- The Finnish delegation at Moscow is meeting Molotov at 4:00 this afternoon. It appears that Ryti and not Tanner is on delegation.
Repeated to Moscow.
Sterling