The New York herald., 1921-04-17
DR.. Holsti, Finnish Minis
ter, Predicts Influence
on Lenines Subjects.
TRADE PICKING UP FAST
Firms, Esthonians, Let's, Lith-
uanians, Poles, Swedes and
Danes Near Cooperation.


HELsINGFoRs, March 20.-In the course
of a long interview with DR.. Rudolf
Holsu, Finnish Minister Of Foreign
Affairs, in his official residence, l told
him that I was visiting all tho new
republics in northeastern Europe, and
remarked that Finland seems to have
made greater progress than any other.
He hastened to defend Finlands sister
republics.
when ] think" he said, "of the
deplorabae condition In which tho re-
treat Of the Germans and the Russians
left these little States I am really
amazed at the progress they have
made. The Russians carried away all
they could: the Germans took what
little the Russians had left; and then
the Reds smashed up what could not
be moved.
"Tsthonia had at one time only
10000 roubles in her treasury, but we
made her an advance Of 4O,OOO,oO0
marks. How, in these circumstances,
these little countries ever managed in
such short space of time to make
the progress they have made is little
short of miraculous.
'~The appearance of five new SOW
ereign States on the shores Of the Baltic
3s an event OF some Importance to all
Europe even in this epoch OF great
events The civilization and the re-
ligion OF all Is western, and 1t would
e. "A tvI
mixing them until the bulk of the Rus
elan people have reached the same stage
OF development which they have reached.
Illustrates Flaw In Plan.
'~ro do so would be like keeping back
fhe advanced classes In school until
the backward children had caught UP
10 them The Seund policy, In my opin-
aon would be to help and encourage all
these States as much as possible after
having first recognized their dc jurc
independence.
"rhe example OF industry, orderly
development and political moderation
which they win give to Russia cannot
fall to have its effect on that country,
no matter what form OF government II
finally adopts When the Russian people
SEQ busy factories. contcnted workmen,
and a satisfied peasantry In these re-
gIons which once formed part OF their
empire they cannot but be powerfully y
impressed, and not all the sophistries
OF theorists will be able to undo that
impression.
"A hasty observer might be inclined
10 conclude from present indications
that Finland and these new States will
never be able to act harmoniously with
one another and with the old established
Baltic kingdoms but as matter OF fact
the Observation-Disclosures on which such a
conclusion would be based are only
ripples on the surface not unbridgeablc
chasms. The present controversy be-
tween ourselves and the Swedes on the
Aland Islands question and that be-
tween the Lthuanans and the Poles on
the Wilma matter are transtory. The
Scandinavian kingdoms and the new re-
publics are as matter of fact bound to-
gether by the remembrance OF political
connection In the past or by the ex-
pectation OF close and mutually bene-
6cial commercial relations in the future
Tho Esthonians are raclally akin to
us. Poland and Llthuania have a
strongly Latin civilization: and glance
et the map shows how inevitable IL is
that geographical contiguity, trade rela-
tlons and common interests will bring
us all together. Swedish volunteers
helped to free Esthonia- Esthonian vol
unteers marched into Latvia against
Bermont. In a short time all present
causes Of friction viii have been re-
moved. and Firms, Esthonians, Let's
Lithuanians, Poles Swedes and Danes
will be cooperating harmoniously on the
shores of the Baltic.
Back Door to Britain Opened.
Il do not speak of Germany and Rus
ella, but l see no reason why these two
Powers should not also be partners. and
even leading partners In that peaceful
work IT would be idle, OF course, 20
ignore the possibility OF their coming
together at some future period In hos
1lity to England: and II was this possi-
billty we had In mind when we acquired
Mt Pechenga a back door TO which we
mean TO build a railway and through
which we can always communicate with
Great Britain. summer and winter, with
out having to traverse the Baltic. But
this is of course one OF those remote
contingencies about which every Foreign
OFFICE has to think
II see no reason, / repeat, why all the
peoples on the shores OF the Baltic and
the Gulf of Finland should not cooperate
In harmony; and | do not think that the
existence of Independent republics be-
tween her and the Baltic can interfere
with Russia's use or that sea any more
than tho existence OF Denmark, Belgium
and Holland have interfered with Ger
nlanys use of the North Sea-
This old contention OF some grea,
empires that little maritime nations
block their way to the open sea has al
wavs left the unmoved. tsvpting Napo-
Icons famous jibc, the Germans often
ray that Holland Is only the mud OF q
German river, but the existence or HoI-
land did not prevent the Germans from
becoming at one time a great maritime
Power; and the existence OF independent
republics at the eastern end OF the Bal
tic will not Interfere In the least with
Russias commerce through that sea.
"As a matter OF fact the existence OF
those independent republics will help
Russia, for two OF them. at least. arc
made up of seafaring folk, with great
commercial energy. while all Of them
enjoy, II | might be allowed to say 50,
a reputation for business integrity. Both
for their own sakes as well as for RUS
sia's. they have all a sincere desire TO
help In Russia's commercial develop
rnznt
-Ths now Russia which we are all
looking forward to VIII tnjoy special