THE FINNS' DILEMMA

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25427, 7 January 1944, Page 2

THE FINNS' DILEMMA

It is difficult to withhold a feeling of sympathy with Finland. She had no reason to regard Russia as afriend. On the contrary. The accusation, now levelled against her, that she deliberately entered the war on Germany’s side is irrefutable. It was not altogether surprising that she did so. When Germany invaded Russia the temptation to pay off old scores must have pressed heavily upon her, all the more so because it could hardly be believed by her that the Soviet was capable of withstanding the assaults that would be directed against it by the German military machine which had already shown how formidable it was by overwhelming Western Europe. An opportunity seemed to be opening up for Finland of permanently weakening the Soviet Union and of enlarging her territory at the expense of Russia. The war has taken a'turn which can never have been expected by her. And a decision which it is hard for her to make is' being demanded of her. Russian newspapers, which must be regarded as reflecting the official view on the subject, are threatening her with serious consequences if she does not withdraw from the war. “The longer the Finns continue to fight on Hitler’s side the worse it will be for them at the peace table.” So they are told. And so they may well believe. The masses of the Finnish people desire peace and, since their country is a democracy, they have been expressing their desire very loudly and very clearly. But, however much their Government may agree with them, it has Germans at its elbow closely watching it, and it depends largely upon Germany for its food supplies. In this predicament it is alleged to be. keeping alive a spirit of resistance by means of the Russian bogey, although it is contended in Moscow that it should be plain to all that the Soviet Union is fighting only m defence of its 1941 frontiers. Further, it is pointed out, in behalf of Russia, that at a time when she is pledged to demand the unconditional surrender of her enemies she can scarcely be expected to offer terms to an ally of Hitler—an ally, moreover, whose participation in the war has greatly increased the sufferings of Leningrad and which, by giving

accommodation to six German divisions, is to-day maintaining the threat to the Murmansk railway. The suggestion has been made that a patriotic rising on the part of the Finns against the Germans who occupy their land and against a Government which acquiesces in that occupation would go' far towards a restoration of Russian confidence in the Finnish people. The whole position would seem to be somewhat obscure, and it would probably not be inaccurate to assume that a certain manoeuvring for position is going on, possibly in the hope that the good offices of Great Britain and the United States may eventually be brought into play with the view of effecting an adjustment between the opinions held by the different factions in Finland.