760D.61/1548: Telegram
The Minister in Finland (Schoenfeld) to the Secretary of State
[Received January 23—4:35 p.m.]
20. My telegram No. 17, January 21, 1 p.m. Our Military Attaché19 reports signs of uneasiness at the General Staff and among army officers in Helsinki. The former aide to the Chief of the Finnish Air Force yesterday confided to him that prospects for Finland were not bright. The fact that lakes and rivers are now frozen coincides with the present truculence of the Soviet Government. Huthsteiner also learns that all Finnish troops have been withdrawn from Petsamo to “winter quarters” at Rovaniemi. While the public and the Government remain calm, undercurrent of concern in military circles seems worthy of report.
According to the Japanese Military Attaché20 the Russians have from 18 to 20 divisions on the Finnish frontier. Finnish General Staff admits 15.
Copy by courier to Moscow.