760D.61/1503: Telegram
The Minister in Finland (Schoenfeld) to the Secretary of State
[Received 2:45 p.m.]
394. My telegram No. 393, September 4, 7 p.m.51 The Prime Minister also told me yesterday that, just as he had had reason to think during the hostilities last winter with the Soviet Union that definite agreement existed between the Russians and the Germans regarding concessions to be obtained by the former from Finland, so he now believed that the terms of the treaty ending the war in March represented complete fulfillment of the German engagement in the premises. This engagement having been fulfilled the German Government was now free to determine its policy in the north without this commitment to the Russians.
Ryti added that notwithstanding the present occupation of Norway by the Germans, increasing consideration was being given to revival [Page 342] of the idea of a close alignment of Sweden, Finland and Norway which might even take the form of a federal union among them but excluding Denmark which was thought to be permanently under German control. Purpose of such union would be to preserve independence of the northern tier of countries. It was not practicable in present circumstances to permit these matters to become subject of official discussion between governments but they were being considered seriously in Swedish political and military circles.
Though the Prime Minister did not say so, it was obvious that similar consideration was being given them here. When I reminded the Prime Minister of former Foreign Minister Tanner’s announcement last March of the plan for northern defensive alliance and the fate which befell it through Russian opposition Ryti repeated his regret that such public statement had been made. He attributed Tanner’s action in his tenure of office at Moscow [sic] to the desire of an experienced politician to soften in the public mind the blow represented by the simultaneous announcement of the terms of peace.
Projecting the foregoing into a future not necessarily remote but involving possible rivalry between the Germans and the Russians either with reference to mineral deposits in this area or for other reasons, I surmise that if Finland is again attacked and resists, Finnish statesmen will decide on resistance partly because active support from Sweden is not thought to be excluded. Though seemingly without allies and without hope, like the Austrian? after their defeat at Wagram,53 Finland might indeed find that both allies and hope would be forthcoming.