File No. 860d.00/21
The Ambassador in Russia (Francis) to the Secretary of State
[Received February 24, 10.33 a.m.]
2390. Kliefoth1 just arrived from Torneå after eight days across Finland to Murmansk road and reports as follows:
White Guard, comprising an army of patriots totaling about 50,000 well-drilled and disciplined men and under command of Mannerheim, a Russian-Finnish general distinguished in present and the Russian-Japanese war, who is virtually dictator, is in absolute control of all Finland north of general line Björneborg-Tammerfors-Viborg. This force includes many Russian generals and officers, [Page 754] about 60 volunteer Swedish officers and only 6 volunteer Germans formerly affiliated with Finland. They are not fighting Russia, their sole object being to drive from their country Finnish-Bolshevik and Russian Red Guards and to establish Finnish independence. They are not expecting official German aid. Finland claims Aland Islands of which Sweden has taken possession.
- Alfred W. Kliefoth, Vice Consul at Haparanda.↩