Foreign News: Unease in Finland

The Russians claimed that a Finnish motorized battalion was helping the Germans at Stalingrad and that “old men and cripples” were being conscripted to help the Germans storm Leningrad. In Washington Finnish Minister Hjalmar Procope denied the charges, added that Finland “wants to cease fighting as soon as the threat to her existence has been averted” and her security guaranteed.

Of all the diplomatic double talk that has followed Finland’s alliance with Germany, Minister Procope’s statement was most suspiciously confusing. The Finnish Information Bureau branded as “false and foundationless” any intimation that Finland was ready for a separate peace. The British, who declared war on Finland in December, said Procope’s statement was an evident attempt to keep U.S. public opinion at least lukewarmly sympathetic. There was another report that Russia had asked the U.S. (via Wendell Willkie) to declare war on the Finns.

Finland has one of World War II’s most difficult diplomatic positions to maintain. Internally her fighting strength is being bled white by two wars in three years. Her economy is disrupted by blockade, her people dissatisfied. Letters from1 soldiers complain of German pressure at home, bad food and living conditions. Some are bitter over wives and sweethearts consorting with German soldiers.

All men were not blinded when the lights went out in Europe. Some took promises of bread and let their minds and bodies be ground into the machine of the Third Reich. But there were millions of others who still remembered what it was to live in freedom. When they had a chance, they fought. When they could not fight, they waited. They knew how hungry they were, but they did not know how long they would have the strength tr fight. Yet they waited, hoping for the chance.. . .