FINLAND: Security for Friendship

Finnish troops were massed before Leningrad. Finland’s president, gaunt, grave Risto Ryti, reaffirmed his Government’s disavowal of Nazi ideology, pledged continuance of the war against Soviet Russia. Great Britain, weighing Joseph Stalin’s demand for a formal declaration of war against Finland, Rumania and Hungary, looked to the U.S. for advice.

To Secretary of State Cordell Hull went the task of providing that guidance. About Rumania and Hungary he was not concerned: those nations are frankly Nazi puppets. But over the years Cordell Hull had watched his Government and Finland enjoy a feeling of friendship and mutual trust that has few parallels in the history of nations, and for months he hesitated over a move that would sever those ties. This week he made it.

With grave and sorrowful formality the Secretary of State notified Finland that if she desires to continue friendly relations with the U.S. she must immediately discontinue military operations against Russia.

Last Aug. 18, 54 days after Finland’s war declaration, Cordell Hull had informed Finnish Minister Hjalmar Procope of Russia’s desire to talk peace on the basis of territorial compensation for Finland. Neither the Minister nor his Government was interested. Since then the U.S. has frequently expressed anxiety over Finland’s course. The facts, as usual, favored Cordell Hull, and to him they were clear: either the Finnish Government is no longer a free -agent of its people, or the people themselves prefer alliance with a power that endangers the independence of all nations of the world, including Finland.

The Finnish Legation in Washington answered in words that were partly quoted from President Ryti: Finland will not be satisfied to discuss peace until her Army has reached the “strategic line* independently selected by her in her own defensive interests of security.” Between what she considers her security and the friendship of the U.S., Finland had chosen security. She had left Britain little choice but to declare war as Joseph Stalin requested.

* From midway on the eastern shore of Lake Ladoga to Lake Onega, thence directly north almost to the White Sea, thence northwestward to the region of Salla, which Russia took from Finland in 1940. These boundaries would include almost all of Soviet Karelia, would give Finland a more easily defended frontier than at present.