Finland and the United States, 1917–1919: Early Years of Mutual Relations

Abstract

In this published dissertation, Jarolsaw Su-choples, a Polish scholar, presents what he calls “the facts connected with the beginning of Finnish-American political relations” that took shape in the waning years of World War I. His volume offers few original insights into that relationship, but it does provide a detailed account of the emergence of the Finnish-American relationship at the time, a subject that has often been neglected by historians. He describes a Finland focused on preserving its newly won independence from Russia and on gaining formal recognition from the United States. In response to those efforts, President Woodrow Wilson's administration assumed a passive and at times hostile posture since Finland's postindependence actions were not always consistent with America's wartime national interests. The troubled beginnings of the relationship emerged as Finland, taking advantage of the internal turmoil in Russia unleashed by the Bolshevik revolution, declared its independence in December 1917. The new government approached the United States for formal recognition and for desperately needed grain shipments to ease famine conditions. But a civil war, led by Bolshevik insurgents, complicated potential relations in early 1918. Intent on ensuring its survival, Finland reached a rapprochement with Germany and even contemplated a monarchy with a German duke on the throne. Germany's defeat in October ultimately ended such plans.