FINNISH HISTORY

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21558, 22 January 1940, Page 4

FINNISH HISTORY

Sir—A somewhat “pointless point” is made by Mr A. M. Paterson in his latest letter. He states that the short digest of modern Finnish history which he gave last Wednesday was not an expression of opinion but authentic fact. He then says that he believes it in every detail, and by so doing, renders what he gives as actual history tantamount to his own opinion. The portion of his first letter, which I quoted on Friday last, may have led Mr Paterson to believe I was entering into a discussion on Finnish history. Nothing was further from my mind, and I have no hesitation in admitting that Mr Paterson knows a great deal more about this subject than I do. However, what I did, and still condemn, is his statement that the Finns besought Russia to come into their country, ravage it with war, and free them from the maladministration of the capitalist class. I fail to see how the portion of his letter expressing this view can be regarded as other than his personal opinion, and for this reason: Russia’s invasion of Finland is of such recent vintage that it can hardly yet be called historical, and it is quite unlikely (even impossible) that any considered historical book has yet been written on the whole deplorable business. To imagine that such a book, if written, could be in New Zealand by now, is only adding to the impossibility. Therefore. Mr Paterson’s amazing assertion that the Finns invited Russian aid, is either a personal opinion or an opinion based on propaganda such as one sees in hurriedly written newspaper articles. These come prolifically from pro-tota-litarian sources and are all part of the war machinery. In conclusion, may I ask if any reasonable person can reconcile the fact of the stubborn resistance and united front shown by the Finnish people to the Red Army, with a pronouncement that the poor Finns sought Russian deliverance from an unhappy lot.—l am, etc., WELL-WISHER. Tlmaru, January 20. Sir, —Now that Mr A. M. Paterson has so clearly shown that the cause of the Russian-Finnish war was the ruthless attack on a small, peaceful nation like Russia, by those great Finnish bullies who, with overpowering forces and immense supplies of all kind of war material, are endeavouring to destroy this small, truthful, kindly, peaceful and free country, Russia. Surely Mr Paterson is not going to let it rest there. He must have convinced many others of the deplorable state the world will be in if these brutal Finns should gain their object and destroy noble Russia which Mr Paterson has so clearly shown is their aim. I suggest he should start a fund to help his champion of freedom who is being so sorely attacked by those agents of the Devil, the accursed Finns. Russia has many good friends in Timaru who will certainly help him. though many of them are not so vocal just now as they were a short time ago. But the time for talk is past. Let them be up and doing and help dear, kindly, peaceful Russia against those degraded Finns, who claim they are only defending themselves. What liars Mr Paterson has proved them to be, and it is now quite clear they are the attackers. Surely Mr Paterson can do something to help his friend.—l am, etc., IMPRESSED. Timaru, January 21.