860D.00/917: Telegram
The Minister in Finland (Schoenfeld) to the Secretary of State
[Received April 30—2:35 p.m.]
127. Diet yesterday passed Economic Powers Bill which had been made question of confidence in Government by vote of 147 to 33. The [Page 25] law, summarized in Legation’s despatch 2030, April 24,69 empowers Government to control by decree the economic life of Finland and relations of citizens thereto and in effect makes the Cabinet supreme authority in State. Specific powers conferred on the Council of State include regulation and control of production, consumption, distribution, transportation, foreign trade, prices, raw materials, personal and real property, electric and other power, rents, wages, financial transactions, communications and labor. Diet may however revoke decrees of legislative nature issued under the law which will remain effective until the end of 1942. A constitutional “democratic dictatorship” has thus been established in Finland.
- Not printed.↩