File No. 860d.00/182
The Minister in Sweden (Morris) to the Secretary of State
[Received June 15, 9.34 a.m.]
2302. For Polk, very confidential. General Mannerheim, the former commander in chief of the troops of Finland, is now in Stockholm. He has severed his connection with the Finnish government. He states that the movement of the German troops toward Murman and Finland’s position regarding Karelia is such that it will probably lead to difficulties with the Allies. He states that he does not think the Finnish government would be easily dissuaded from their program regarding Karelia, and there does not seem to be much doubt but that the Germans intend to carry out their plans regarding the Murman Railway. This is likely to put Finland in a dangerous way regarding her neutrality as pointed out in my previous telegrams. General Mannerheim is leaving for Finland again to-morrow but returns to Stockholm in about a week, as he states that with the German situation in Finland as it is, he does not desire personally to live there. In future it may be well to bear this in mind should some opportune time come in which General Mannerheim could be of service to us.