File No. 860d.00/301
The Consul at Helsingfors (Haynes) to the Secretary of State1
[Received October 12, 10.25 p.m.]
101. Frederick Carl elected King October 9 in secret session. Vote reported to have been 76 to 41, unlikely he will be seated. (1) Personally he has previously advised that he would accept only on condition that not too much opposition; (2) parliamentary [opposition of] the left in Germany may prevent; and (3) peace arrangements may demand a king by the will of the people.
Diet adjourned yesterday to [reconvene] in ordinary session November 5 to arrange budget, order of succession, and the penal code. Reported to-day in Helsingfors that Kaiser Wilhelm has declared he would abdicate in favor of third son rather than stand in the way of peace.
- Sent via the Legation in Sweden (No. 2990).↩