File No. 860d.00/184
The Consul at Helsingfors (Haynes) to the Secretary of State1
[Received June 15, 1918, 5.40 a.m.]
Only 108 members, or 54 per cent, now compose the Diet which formerly comprised 200. Almost certain a majority vote of this 54 per cent will, in a short time, by declaring monarchy, accomplish [Page 794] coup d’état, since Constitution requires two-thirds the Diet or five-sixths popular vote to determine character sovereignty. Monarchy not discussed until Germans arrived.
Germans were lately reported moving northward from Helsingfors presumably to prepare for winter campaign against Karelia and Murman as lakes are passable only when frozen. French Consul and English Consul predict Finland will be with Germany against Allies by next October.
No political or military information allowed sent from Finland and Allied Consuls can post only open mail.
- Sent via the Legation in Sweden (No. 2295, June 14).↩