758.60D11/21: Telegram
The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Steinhardt) to the Secretary of State
[Received 10:59 p.m.]
677. The Counselor of the Swedish Legation49 told me last night that the British Ambassador here50 has recently been endeavoring to “promote” a defensive alliance between Sweden and Finland. He remarked that both the Soviet Union and Germany were opposed to any such alliance.
He said that the Finns were so afraid of the Soviets that they were turning more and more towards Germany and that fear was increasing in all Swedish circles that Sweden might eventually become the battleground in a war between the Soviet Union and Germany.
In connection with the report (see my 615, March 27, 6 p.m.51) that Germany had made demands on Sweden for the transit of additional troops, he said that the request had been for the passage of two divisions.