ATTACK ON FINLAND.  FURHER WESTWARD MOVEMENT OF RUSSIAN
INFLUENCE IN EUROPE WAS REGARDED IN AMERICA AS UNDESIRABLE.  NO
FEATURE OF THE PRESENT WAR HAD ATTAINED GREATER PROMINENCE IN THE
AMERICAN MIND -- WHICH HAD TRADITIONALLY FAVORED THE UNDERDOG-
THAN THE BRAVE STRUGGLE WHICH FINLAND HAD BEEN MAKING AGAINST THE
HEAVY ODDS FOR THER RIGHT TO EXIST.  THIS FEELING HAD BEEN SO MARKED
THAT IT WAS DIFFICULT TO CONCEIVE OF ANY POSSIBLE MOCE WIHCH WOULD
DO MORE TO RAISE GERMAN PRESTIGE AND GOOD WILL IN AMERICAN THAN A
TIMELY, HUMANE, AND EQUITABLE SETTLEMENT OF THE FINNISH PROBLEM
UNDER GERMAN INTIATIVE AND LEADERSHIP.  FIELD MARSHALL GOERING
RESPONDED TO THE POINT THAT GERMANY MIGHT TAKE THE INITIATIVE IN
BRINGING ABOUT AN EARLY SOLUTION OF THE FINNISH PROBLEM BY
REFERRING TO SEVERAL GERMAN EXPRESSIONS THAT HAD ALREADY BEEN
MADE TO RUSSIA, URGING RUSSIA TO A MODERATE COURSE AND REASONABLE
DEMANDS WITH RESPECT TO FINLAND.  FURTHER, GERMANY HAD ENCOURAGE
FINLAND TO CONSIDER CAREFULLY, AND IF POSSIBLE