740.0011 European War 1939/2059: Telegram
The Minister in Finland (Schoenfeld) to the Secretary of State
[Received April 10—2 p.m.]
187. Leading liberal newspaper in editorial today entitled “Scandinavia in the vortex of the great war” says that events of the last 2 days prove that policy of neutrality could not prevent involvement of the [Page 152] north in the war, adding that recent notes of the Allied Governments to Sweden and Norway evidence the impression of German influence over Scandinavia created in France and Great Britain during the Finnish-Soviet war. Paper adds that Scandinavian attitude towards the Finnish struggle against Russian aggression provided psychological basis for present Allied policy and led to mining of Norwegian coastal waters by the Allies with ensuing lightning German reaction though there was no excuse for occupation of Denmark in view of its nonaggression pact with Germany on which the ink was hardly dry.
I am given to understand by members of the Finnish Government that above view is substantially that of the Government as to the direct relation between policy of the Scandinavian countries during Finnish war with Russia and the present position of Norway, Denmark, and Sweden and it is believed here that plans for German intervention crystallized only during the last stage of Finnish and Soviet hostilities. The inference drawn from present situation by the Finnish Government and informed opinion is that Finnish policy must be one of even more extreme caution than previously to avoid friction either with Germany or with Russia and it is my opinion that this policy will continue pending radical change in the military position of the great powers.