File No. 860d.00/266
The Consul at Helsingfors (Haynes) to the Secretary of State1
[Received August 27, 5.35 a.m.]
76. The decision of the German General Staff that the present Finnish borders cannot be defended and must be shortened to include Murman Railway has brought about considerable adverse comment in Finland. Population is not willing to be pushed into a war of aggression by Germany but the army and the government are so under the control of Von der Goltz and the German military forces that such a project may be undertaken when Germany is ready. Just now all German energies are being directed to training Finnish army. One German officer is assigned to every Finnish company; all army orders have to be countersigned by Colonel von Redem who cooperates with Thesleff, chief of staff. At present it is incorrect to speak of any other army than a German-Finnish army. Railroad construction and all road building point to possible hostilities on the Murman, although Finnish newspapers and prominent men assert that no offensive action is intended until a just cause presents itself. German propaganda is poisoning minds of the Finnish people against Murman expedition so that slight border disturbances may be magnified later into a sufficient casus belli.
- Sent via the Legation in Sweden (No. 2712).↩