FINNS’ AID FOR HITLER

Southland Times, Issue 24592, 14 November 1941, Page 5

FINNS’ AID FOR HITLER

MR HULL EXPRESSES CONCERN

IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTION (Rec. 7.30 p.m.) WASHINGTON, November 12. “Finland, in rejecting the United States peace suggestion, evaded the real issue,” said the Secretary of State, Mr Cordell Hull. “Many Americans, too, have failed to understand that the Finnish forces are making an extremely important and effective contribution to Hitler’s cause by participation in the general war.” Mr Hull quoted Associated Press reports from Berlin which showed that Finland is moving into new military actions beyond her frontier. Mr Hull =aid he still hoped the Finns might consider some of those democratic traditions the Americans always associated with the Finnish people and that the Finns were not irrevocably committed to collaboration which might mean the loss of their liberties and institutions. Mr Hull revealed that a peace offer was submitted to M. Procope on August 18. It was received by the United States Government from the Soviet Ambassador, M. Christian Oumansky, on instructions from Moscow, but the Finnish Government repeatedly assertea that it had not received anything which could be construed as a bona fide peace offer. GENUINE OFFER MADE Mr Hull asserted that if M. Procope had sent Helsinki a full report of the August conversation there could be no question that a genuine offer had been made. Mr Hull criticized German propaganda, which obscured the vital concerns of the free democratic nations. Mr Hull asserted that German propaganda reaches the United States before the most rapid flashes from Finland. The Finnish reply to the United States alleged that the Under--Secretary _of State, Mr Sumner Welles, did not inform the Finnish Minister to Washington, M. Hjalmar Procope, that the Soviet had asked Finland to make peace, nor did he offer to mediate or make any recommendations. Finland did not gain the impression that the action of Mr Welles was an offer of peace from the Soviet Union.

The Finnish reply, after asserting that Finland’s attitude is that she desires to cease hostilities against the Soviet as soon as the dangers threatening her existence are eliminated and guarantees are obtained for her future security, adds: “Suggestions that Finland has more far-reaching aims overestimate Finland’s opinion of her own resources.” The Note also says that the Finnish Government does not believe that the Finnish occupation of areas from which Finland’s safety has been continually threatened can conflict with American security interests. Finland, contrary to American assumptions, does not consider her independence or freedom of action are threatened by Germany. She wants to manage her own affairs, including her security, on a basis of national unity and as an ancient northern democracy.

Berlin radio declared: “Finland’s reply to the United States will make Mr Roosevelt feel he has been told to keep within his own bounds. Mr Roosevelt’s pedantry bar received the reply it deserved from our courageous allies.” The Ber’in News Agency, commenting on ths Finnish reply said: “Finland desires to end the struggle when the danger threatening her is averted. The Finns will continue the war only until them security and peace are guaranteed. Con. squently, there can be no question of a sudden interruption of entirely justifiable military operations.”

M. Solomon Lozovsky, the Russian spokesman, commenting on the Finnish reply, said he could understand it in the face of the fury of the German Press against America and from the fact that the Finnish Government was dependent upon Germany, which prevented a straightforward reply to America.