The Bay of Plenty Times SATURDAY, JULY 3, 1948. THE ELECTION IN FINLAND

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXXVI, Issue 14713, 3 July 1948, Page 2

The Bay of Plenty Times SATURDAY, JULY 3, 1948. THE ELECTION IN FINLAND

The election which has been taking place during the past two days in Finland should decide whether or not that small but very important country will eventually come under the domination of its large and aggressive neighbour, or whether it will retain its independence under the watchful eye of the West. More than usual importance is attached to the present election particularly in view of the recent negotiations between Moscow and Helsinki which, for a time it seemed, could have only one end. The strong stand taken by President Paasikivi and his Council of State showed that Finland was unlikely to prove such an easy conquest for Communism as were the various central European countries. There are more reasons for Russia's keenness to enclose Finland within the folds of the Iron Curtain than the conversion ci another four million people to Communism. For more than a hundred years before the Revolution in 1917, Finland was under Russian rule. For about seven centuries before that the country belonged to Sweden. Late in 1939, after the outbreak of the war between Germany and the Allied Powers, Russia suddenly attacked Finland, and as a result, gained important territorial advantages. When Germany attacked Russia in the early summer of 1911 Finland joined in, hoping to.regain some of her lost territory. As the result of the armistice terms agreed, to in September 1944, Finland regained her former frontiers but was compelled to lease two naval stations on the Baltic to Russia and to make other concessions. It can be readily appreciated therefore that the Finnish people as a whole have little love for the Russians, or for Communism, despite the fact that that party has made sufficient political progress in the country to hold two out of the twelve seats in the Council of State. A reverse in Finland, which seems more than likely, following that in the Italian elections in April, the more recent break-away from Moscow of Yugoslavia, and the support for Marshal Tito which seems to be forthcoming from Bulgaria, would be a serious set-back to Communist prestige in Europe. It might even have the effect of modifying somewhat the aggressive attitude of the Soviet over Berlin.