740.0011 European War 1939/23901: Telegram
The Minister in Finland (Schoenfeld) to the Secretary of State
[Received 5:23 p.m.]
735. A Finn who in peace time is largest importer of steel and who is now in special military service and in close touch with leading military opinion last night told me Finns earnestly hope there will be no break with us but that if there should be such break direct results would be that Finnish forces will undoubtedly extend their operations eastward and will lend Germans support necessary for latter to move eastward on northern front. Thus far, he said, Finns have refrained from moving beyond strategic line required to protect their old frontiers [Page 80] largely out of consideration for us and Germans have been unable to extend their lines only because of Finnish unwillingness to cooperate in such operations. This Finnish attitude, however, would change promptly in event of rupture with us.
My informant displayed characteristic self-confidence of Finns and their amazingly egocentric outlook when he said they have absolutely no sense of obligation for any German assistance which they realized had been given only for German purposes and was as nothing compared to assistance they had given Germans. Finns would never forget German betrayal of Finland to Russians in 1939 but now held long Finnish front to German advantage as well as their own. Finns would not permit German interference here either in political or economic matters and in case of German victory in Europe they were confident Finland would continue to command German respect and to enjoy special position recognized by Germans. Finns had no fears on this score the more so as Germans who had been inclined to patronize them in early stages of present war now “talked very small” and know that Finnish “sisu”28 is irreducible.
My informant’s statements though quite unofficial are worthy of note because they undoubtedly reflect Views in highest Finnish circles.
- A word expressing the quality of stubborn determination of character which made possible the accomplishment of great deeds in time of stress.↩