Foreign Relations of the United States Diplomatic Papers, 1941, General, The Soviet Union, Volume I

758.60D/285: Telegram

The Minister in Finland (Schoenfeld) to the Secretary of State

Helsinki, March 26, 1941—1 p.m.
[Received 3:13 p.m.]

80. Minister for Foreign Affairs who was in Stockholm last week for what had been intended as secret visit informed me today that his conversations there with Swedish Prime and Foreign Ministers⁴² covered present political situation besides reaching substantial agreement on pending economic questions. It was found that differences in views on political and economic matters were very slight. New trade agreement is shortly to be concluded either here or at Stockholm.

Swedes inquired whether Finland had any ideas of vengeance against Soviet Union and were informed categorically in negative. Witting said he thought this inquiry had been motivated by rumors mentioned in my telegram No. 72, March 13,⁴³ regarding possible adherence of Finland to Axis Pact⁴⁴ though Swedes did not ask about this.

Stockholm conversations had included question of strengthening Swedish-Finnish understanding regarding policy vis-à-vis Russians and for first time I gained impression that Finnish Government now entertains some hope of more active Swedish collaboration in event of new Russian aggression. Recent calling up of 100,000 more Swedish effectives, successfully carried out within 3 days, Witting thought was due to anxiety of Swedish military authorities regarding rumored British plans in Narvik area which were however denied at London. Discussion also covered differing policies in Sweden and Finland regarding Communist propaganda which is less drastically controlled there than here.

Foreign Minister told me Petsamo nickel question was not discussed at Stockholm and its status remains substantially unchanged though there has been some improvement in trade relations with Soviet Union and latter have lately released some commodities previously paid for by Finns.

Repeated by courier to Stockholm.

Schoenfeld

42. Per Albin Hansson and Christian Günther, respectively.
43. Not printed.
44. Three power pact of assistance signed at Berlin on September 27, 1940, between Germany, Italy, and Japan; for text, see Foreign Relations, Japan, 1931–1941, vol. ii, p. 165. For correspondence concerning the negotiation of this treaty, see Foreign Relations, 1940, vol. i, pp. 633 ff.