740.0011 European War 1939/21944: Telegram
The Minister in Finland (Schoenfeld) to the Secretary of State
[Received June 3—11:41 a.m.]
459. In conversation last night with Paasikivi, formerly Finnish Minister at Moscow, who was always well regarded by Russians and is probably most moderate among Finnish leaders in his views on relations between Finland and the U.S.S.R., he indicated that he saw no solution for that problem except on basis of maintenance of German power as counterbalance to U.S.S.R. He insisted that Russian mentality was wholly alien to that of western Europe and that Stalin’s policy represented combination of outright expansionist aims with internal development. He agreed with Witting and Tanner who were also present that only force could prevent Russian encroachment in northern Europe though at same time he admitted Russia was potentially self-sufficient and consequently irresistible in long run by purely military methods. He expected that exhaustion resulting from present war would keep Russians quiet for a time thereafter, but he was skeptical of Russian sincerity in accepting principles of Atlantic Charter and expressed grave doubt that Britain and United States could exercise any controlling influence over U.S.S.R. if war concludes favorably for United Nations.
It was evident from my talk with Paasikivi as well as with other Finnish leaders last night that they continue to count on German power as their only available resource against U.S.S.R. and that if this fails them they see no alternative to destruction of their national existence and Russian domination of entire European continent. Their panacea is reconciliation of western powers and Germany to form united front against Russians and they make no secret of their belief that this united front will also have to face the Japanese. In short, these Finns consider Russians incorrigible and our political idealism impracticable.