Evening star., 1941-06-27
Member of the Associated Press.
Why Finland Fiqhts

Finland'S lineup with Germany
against the Soviets should be ap-
praised in the light of the history OF
Russo Finnish relations. Even a
cursory survey of the background
reveals the grim truth that Finland
had no choice but to take up arms
against Russia, the hereditary foe
which was threatening her very
existence.
This struggle is not new. 1t
reaches back beyond recorded his
tory, for the folklore of both peoples
depicts chronic antagunism which
seems to 20 down to their tempera-
mental roots. In this long struggle
the more numerous SlavS were
usually the aggressors. Much of
Northern Russia was originally in
habited by Finnish tribes, long since
destroyed or absorbed. The present
state of Finland is thus the veteran
survivor of an age-old battle.
When Finland was torn from its
associate with Sweden more than
a century ago the Finnish people
fought so doggedly against the
dreaded Russian rule that the Gar
Of that day allowed them self
government to reconcile them to in
clusion within his empire. But later
Cars revoked his promise and at
tempted to RuSsify the Firms. For
many years the world witnessed the
extraordinary spectacle of a small
people fighting so successfully by
disciplined passive resistance that
the Cars will could not prevail
When the Czarist empire broke. up
in revolutionary anarchy in 1917,
Finland promptly proclaimed its in
dependence and established ma
tional life which was one of the
freest and most progressive in the
world.
Meanwhile, the Red Russia born
of the Communist revolution grew
into a great power. Theoretically, 1t
was a confederation of Soviet repub-
lies maintaining the Identities and
cultural rights of all RuSSia's many
peoples. But this was sham Wher-
ever the interests of the central gov
ernment at Moscow were concerned.
Finland had good reason to know
this, because Finnish-speaking pop
ulations in Russian territory which
attempted to set up such republics
were ruthlessly suppressed, and in
some cases the inhabitants them
selves were transplanted to remote
parts of the Soviet Union. Here, in
deed, was a warning which could not
be disregarded
Moscow's attitude toward Finland
was never friendly, and became
steadily more hostile. The mere
presence of prosperous, successful
bourgeois" nation at the very gates
of Leningrad was a standing ideo-
logical challenge to Russia's Commu-
nistic experiment. This, equally with
strategic considerations, impelled
Stain to take advantage of his bar
gain with Hitler and attack Finland
at the first opportune moment. And
there is no doubt that, but for Ger
many's veto, Stain would have
crushed Finland once and for all.
Thenceforth, Finland was basically
dependent on German support. The
Firms had fought to their last car
fridge. Bled white, devastated and
menaced with starvation, they could
not, unaided, have repelled second
Russian assault. But Germany ex-
acted an ever-riSing price for its
yelled protection. Isolated Finland
was compelled to make close eco
nomic arrangements with the Reich,
to permit the passage Of German
troops to Norway, to allow troops to
stop on Finnish soil, and more be-
sides. Finland was fast becoming
German-occupied territory, and that
was Russia's excuse for its present
air raids on a great scale. But un-
happy Finland had no alternative.
Now the tragedy is complete, and
Finland fights-against her ancient
foe.