THE WRONG COURSE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24697, 28 August 1941, Page 7

THE WRONG COURSE

FINNISH GOVERNMENT BRITISH LABOUR’S WARNING (Rec. 8.30. p.m.) RUGBY, Aug. 26. In reply to a telegram from the Finnish Social Democratic Party to the British Labour movement appealing for an understanding of the position in Finland in the RussianGerman war, the, British National Council af Labour states: that the existence of a free Labour indyement and the future of democracy and social progress depend on the removal of the menace, of Hitlerism.” The statement continues: “We know that. not «jnly our Finnish social democratic trade union and co-operative friends, but the vast majority of all Finnish citizens are convinced that the Democrats are proud of the great achievements of their freely elected Parliament and desire 'to preserve the freedom, national unity, social progress, general prosperity and individual well-being, which over the last 20 years they have built up. But they must realise that a victory of the Nazis in this war would mean the end of freedom, democracy and social progress in all countries under Hitler’s sway. If Finland continues to be allied with Hitler it will share the disastrous consequences of the catastrophe in which his regime will surely end. It is plain, therefore, that the Finnish Government has taken the wrong course, and it is urgently necessary in the Finnish national interest that it should cut itself loose from the fatal entanglement in which it is involved. We urge* the Finnish Labour movement with all the emphasis at our command to take the lead in securing a change in the Government’s policy and in ranging their country beside those who are fighting with us for humanity and civilisation.’”