860D.5018/23: Telegram

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

162. My telegram 64, January 22.61 Jubilation over increase in bread ration of approximately 20 percent for February owing to German promises of grain has been short lived. Ice conditions in the Baltic have caused suspension of maritime traffic with result that food ships for Finland are icebound at Stettin and other North German ports. Ministry of Supply has been forced to requisition one-half of wheat and all rye seed reserved for next autumn sowing in Southern and Central Finland as well as cereals reserved for consumption by farmers in August which are to be returned later. This is an emergency measure designed to tide over the country until grain ships arrive from Germany but it emphasizes the force of Witting’s repeated assertions to me that Finland is now dependent on Germany for essential food supplies.62

It is equally rejuvenating however that apart from effects upon Finnish policy of an eventual change in the military aspect of the general war, the United Nations have it in their power to influence Finnish policy whenever they can assure Finland of adequate food supplies.

Schoenfeld
  1. Not printed.
  2. The Germans were, of course, quite aware of this hold over Finland. In telegram No. 171 of March 4, 1942, Minister Schoenfeld repeated the remark made by a German official: “If Finns do not do as we wish, was machen sie?” (860D.9111/66)