File No. 860d.00/274
The Chargé in Sweden (Whitehouse) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 3, 9.36 a.m.]
2754. Have received telegram from Ambassador Francis requesting me to deliver for publication in a Finnish newspaper in Stockholm a manifesto addressed to Finns in all countries by Tokoi, ex-Minister President in Finland, and other members of his government.
This manifesto repudiates a proclamation of the Moscow Central Committee of the Finnish Social Democrats warning Finnish working men not to join the British Army and states this committee has no authority to publish such a proclamation and no right to describe working men who are striving to rescue their country from the terrorism of the White Guard by assisting the Allied Army as the enemies of their Russian fellow workers. Further that Finnish Legion in British Army is not compelled to take any part in the Russian civil war, its sole object being the deliverance of Finland from the Germans and German-minded White Guards.
It seems to me this proclamation, if published, might lead the Finnish government to think that we intended to interfere in Finnish internal affairs, might enable the government to persuade the Finns that an offensive against Murman was really a defensive act, and I fear cause an unfavorable impression in Finland. Do you desire me under the circumstance to transmit the manifesto to the newspaper for which it is intended?