Page "Juho Kusti Paasikivi" Paragraph 10

In Stockholm Paasikivi strived for Swedish defence guarantees, alternatively a defensive alliance or a defensive union between Finland and Sweden.

Since the Civil War the relations between Swedes and Finns had been frosty.

The revolutionary turmoil at the end of the World War had in Sweden led to Parliamentarism, increased democracy, and a dominant role for the Swedish Social Democrats.

In Finland, however, the result had been a disastrous Civil War and a total defeat for Socialism.

At the same time as when Paasikivi arrived in Stockholm, it became known that President Svinhufvud retained his aversion for Parliamentarism and ( after pressure from Paasikivi's Conservative Party ) had declined to appoint a Cabinet with Social Democrats as Ministers.

This didn't improve Paasikivi's reputation among the Swedish Social Democrats dominating the government, who were sufficiently suspicious due to his association with Finland's Monarchist orientation in 1918, and the failed Lapua coup in 1932.