860D.00/1185: Telegram
The Chargé in Finland ( McClintock ) to the Secretary of State
[Received 10:08 p.m.]
380. Erkko last night confirmed report in my 361, March 1,15 that Kivimaki had been on the carpet before Ribbentrop16 as result of Social Democratic manifesto reported in my 281, February 16.17 He said that in addition to threat of suspending trade negotiations Ribbentrop had menaced Kivimaki with possibility of a separate peace between Russia and Germany with resultant consequences for Finland. Erkko confirmed our impression that following Ribbentrop’s representation the tone of Finnish press has become distinctly less pro-American and more pro-German. I commented to Erkko that it was strange that statement on Finland by Mr. Welles of February 23 had gone entirely without editorial comment in Finnish press although a week earlier I was sure every paper in Helsinki would have published a leading article on the statement. Erkko implies this was due to dictate of censorship. If additional evidence of “German pressure” were needed a more glaring example would be hard to find.
[Page 247]I am informed from reliable source that Ryti was at first determined to keep Rangell as Prime Minister but as he himself told me yesterday (see my 376, March 418) the Diet refused to stomach Rangell. My informant states that Hakkila19 was then asked to form a government for the purpose of “sabotaging the foreign policy of Social Democrats as stated in their manifesto”. I think this a not unlikely possibility in view of Hakkila’s reactionary views and the fact that Germans by this time had made their wants known.…