Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-11-15
FinIond's Tragic Plight

FinIond's Tragic Plight
As the march Of aggression goes
on in the world, it is natural for
public attention to be diverted
momentarily from the tragedies and
sorrows left behind by the con-
querors-such sorrows and tragedies
as those of Finland, for example.
America cannot, in good conscience,
afford to forget heroic Finland. Just
year ago the small Baltic republic
was nearing the end Of her inspiring
but hopeless battle against the Rus
sian invaders. Americans thrilled to
the saga of Finland fighting with
near-incredible effectiveness against
overwhelming odds. This was the
Finland who had never missed pay
ing her debt installments to the
United States; who, even with her
back to the wall, insisted on making
her regular payment to the Treasury.
America reciprocated by lending
stricken Finland total of $50, 900 900
through the Reconstruction Finance
Corporation, albeit with restrictions
on its use, while the Red Cross and
other agencies extended supple
mentary aid.
But Finland fell and was forced to
give up nearly twelve per cent Of
her land area to Soviet Russia.
A nation already devastated by war
found herself without homes for
100000 refugees from the coded ter
ritory, deprived q fourteen per cent
of her most productive farmland,
crippled industrially and faced with
grave shortages of food. clothing,
fuel and medicine. The war, mean
while. moved on to other sectors
with mounting fury and Finland was
left to nurse her wounds and regain
her strength, almost alone. Finland
lost some of her soil to the invader,
but she never for a moment lost her
spirit Of independence, nor waivered
in her determination to carry on a.
before. The European war has con-
tinued to plague Finland, however.
The British blockade has made It
difficult for her to import even what
supplies she has been able to buy in
the United States with the residue Of
the R. F. C. loans. Finnish ships
with cargoes of food and clothing
have been given navicerts, granting
them passage through the blockade,
only after protracted elaboration by
British authorities, who are on
guard against the possibility Of relief
supplies falling into axis hands. The
navicert red tape is said to have
caused serious delays in delivery of
urgently needed American food and
clothing. It is reported that no cargo
destined for Finland from the United
States has ever fallen into German
hands. With this the fact, it would
seem that Britain's own extreme and
urgent need for speed in the matter
Of aid from America should render
her sensitive and comprehending
toward an identical need on the part
Of a small but equally indomitable
sister democracy.
And America can and should do
more to help the courageous Firms.
Authoritative reports from Finland
paint a dark picture Of human
misery in the unfortunate Baltic
country, with conditions due to
become rapidly worse as winter
sweeps out of the Arctic. Finland
faces the twin horrors of famine
and exposure in the months that lie
just ahead, unless aid in vastly
greater quantities reaches her people
without delay. Congress some months
ago appropriated ST, 200, 900 for relief
Of Europe's victims Of aggression,
but only a small amount of this
has been allotted because most Of
the prospective beneficiaries are in
territory occupied or controlled by
the conquerors. Finland, however,
is no longer occupied; nor is there
any evidence that she Is not once
more wholly free and Independent.
So far only 100000 Of the $780,
100000 foreign relief fund has been
turned over by the r. F. c. to the
American Red Cross for Finnish
relief. That is helpful to . degree,
Of course, but Finland's plight is 20
desperate that many millions must
be spent II our aid is to be really
effective. Since Congress has appro-
priated the money to avert Just such
q catastrophe as confronts Finland,
it behooves our Government to con-
slider Immediately the advisability Of
allocating to Finland q much more
generous share Of the r. r. c. relief
fund than has been granted to date.
It Is not right that money earmarked
to save human lives and alleviate
human suffering abroad should b
allowed to ue idle in this country.