740.0011 European War 1939/21251: Telegram
The Chargé in the United Kingdom (Matthews) to the Secretary of State
[Received April 27—11:20 p.m.]
2202. The competent official of the Foreign Office mentioned that the various reports which circulate occasionally regarding the possibility [Page 56] of Finland withdrawing from the Russian war apparently originate in the hopes of certain Social Democrats in Finland and gain currency abroad through Social Democratic circles in Sweden. In this official’s view such reports were exaggerated and premature to say the least and he still believed that Finland would in any event await an indication of the outcome of this summer’s eastern campaigns. According to this official, one of the chief holds which the Germans possess over Finland is the food supply. The Foreign Office had consequently considered suggesting to the Russians that, despite their present food stringency, they might explore the practicability of making food available to the Finns as a possible basis of discussion at some later stage. This suggestion had been telegraphed to the British Embassy at Kuibyshev which was left discretion whether it should be placed before the Russians at this time, particularly from the standpoint of whether the suggestion under the present circumstances might be interpreted by the Russians as part of an independent British initiative to make peace with the Finns, an impression which the Foreign Office wished to avoid. As yet no answer has been received from Kuibyshev.
The Foreign Office official referred with appreciation to the cooperation which the Department has extended to the British Embassy in Washington in the consideration and formulation of policy toward Finland.