740.0011 European War 1939/19219: Telegram
The Minister in Finland (Schoenfeld) to the Secretary of State
[Received 8:55 p.m.]
94. Department’s telegram No. 31, February 2. I spoke to Minister for Foreign Affairs as directed today and left with him memorandum in confirmation of oral statements. He said he could not make considered comment at the Foreign Office and would have to examine memorandum most carefully.43
He pointed out at once that Finland is now dependent for 93% of its imports on German good will, a remark which was doubtless prompted by the fact that German delegation for renewal of trade agreement negotiations has just arrived here and called on him immediately preceding my visit. He also said that Finland’s position with regard to German troops and use of Finnish facilities by Germans was similar to that of Iceland with regard to Allied troops and asked [Page 36] what Icelandic Government could do in event of German demand for evacuation of Allied troops from that Island. I said I saw little similarity between the two situations inasmuch as Finland was actively and voluntarily engaged in war.
Witting went on to say that even in the time of Russian domination of Finland44 there had often been periods when no “constructive” action could be taken by Finnish patriots and that Finland at the present time was “like a mouse in a trap” and similarly in a period when there was little to do but keep quiet.
It was evident that so far as Witting is concerned there was little disposition to try to shake off the German grip on this country if only on the theory that Finland could not risk starvation which he believes will ensue for Finns if Germans have any pretext for interrupting imports to this country.