FINLAND: Second Phase

The first phase of the Communist offensive in Finland was over. The Reds’ carefully timed barrage of successive strikes had so far failed to paralyze the country’s economy or to intimidate Premier KarlAugust Fagerholm’s tough Social Democratic government. But the fight was not over. For the second phase of their drive, the Red strategists had held back some important reserves: Finland’s 55,000 metalworkers.

A strike of metalworkers would hold a special danger for Finland: it might delay delivery of Finnish reparations to Russia. That, explained Premier Fagerholm last week, was what the Communists wanted; delay might give Russia an excuse to “intervene” under terms of the peace treaty.

This week, the Communist high command threw its reserves into the campaign, called out the metalworkers.