FINLAND’S PREDICAMENT

Waikato Times, Volume 129, Issue 21480, 23 July 1941, Page 4

FINLAND’S PREDICAMENT

“Finland’s only aim in making war against Russia is to liberate the Finns in Eastern Karelia,” said the Speaker of the Finnish Parliament. He added that “Finland had no fantastic dreams.” The statement draws attention to the extraordinary position in which the Finns find themselves. While Germany’s pact with Russia existed, Russia attacked Finland and annexed strategically valuable portions of her territory. This action apparently had the blessing of the Germans, but it is now clear that Russia was merely improving her own position against the day when she would be at war with Germany. Finland then had ample reason for complaint that Germany did nothing to restrain her pact partner from proceeding with the annexation. Germany was in fact far more than a passive witness' of the annexation. To please and assist the Russians the Germans removed thousands of their own people from the shores of the Baltic so that Russians might move in. Germany was anxious enough then to please the Russians. She had no thought for the fate #>f the Finns, whom she might have assisted or protected. Subsequent events have thrown much light on actions which at that time seemed obscure. Had Russia then decided to annex the whole of Finland she might have done so with Hitler’s blessing—even if it were a false blessing. Since then startling changes have occurred. Finns are apparently fighting side by side with Germans, with Russia as a common enemy. Finland declares that her only aim is to win back her lost territory from Russia and liberate those Finns who are now under the Russian regime. If the Finns and Germans between them succeed in ejecting the Russians from the recently annexed territory, will Finland then be satisfied? Germany will expect and attempt to persuade the Finns to continue the struggle, but the history of the whole affair shows that Germany has no claim to the sympathy oxsupport of the Finns. If she had any desire to protect Finland the time for action was long ago. When the opportunity was presented Hitler displayed an attitude the very reverse of protective. He will now not hesitate to exploit Finland for his own ends if the opportunity occurs.