Evening star., 1941-11-28
Finland 10 Continue
Fight Into Russia
For Defensive Line
Minister Procope Says
Country Has No Political
Commitments in War

Finland will continue to fight in
Russia beyond her boundaries until
she has suitable defensive line
from which to protect herself for
the duration of the war" the Finn
ish Minister. Hjalmar Procope, told
a press conference at his Legation
yesterday.
Apparently this was the Finnish
response to widespread protests that
Finland should cease fighting when
the territory is recovered that Fin
land lost to Russia by the winter
war" of l939-40.
This defensive line" would be set
up somewhere in Eastern Karelia,
north of Lake Ladoga, the Minister
indicated, but whether it would reach
to the White Sea and interfere with
the rail line connecting Moscow with
the Arctic port of Murmansk-
entry base for American-sent goods
was a question which the confer
ence left unanswered.
On the south, the Firms already
have advanced far into Russian ter
ritory north of Leningrad and west
of Lake Ladoga along the Syvari
River. interfering with the Muir
mansk-Leningrad rail line. Min
lister Procope said. however, that the
Germans themselves had also cut
this line near Leningrad.
Vague on Duration"
Whether in speaking of the "dura-
tion of the war" the Minister meant
the whole great war or the Finnish
Russian war alone Mr.. Procope
would not say. He said that the
territory lost to Russia in 1910 and
still in Russian hands included
Hango in Southwestern Finland,
some islands in the Gulf of Finland
and the Fisherman's Peninsula near
Petsamo, in Northern Finland.
The Minister justified the Finnish
desire for defensive line" by re-
porting that after the end of the
winter war the Russians built in
sparsely populated Eastern Karela
roads and railways leading up to the
Finnish border and 90 airfelds suit
ably located for attack on Finland.
He indicated his belief that these
facilities were only for military pur-
poses.
"One road means one division and
a railroad means five divisions" Col
Per zilliacuS, the Finnish military
attache. said in explaining the
strategic value of the Russian con-
struction work.
Explained to Government.
The Minister said that these mat
ters had been explained to the
British and American governments
in the talks relative to Finnish
withdrawal from participation in the
war. but he declined to discuss Fin
lands diplomatic situation regard
ing Washington and London.
He held that Finland was fighting
her own battle, this time not alone"
and that Finland was using equip
ment from Germany and other
goods. He distributed a statement |
giving an historjal basis for Finnish |
adherence to the Anti-Comintern |
Pact When he was asked whether |
Finland next would sign the Axis |
Pact, his answer skirted the oues- |
tioH.
Finland is not a member of the |
Avis he seid.
He used strong language in stress |
ing Finland's independence of pur-
pose In fighting.
Finland has no political commit
ments in the present war" he said |
Finland is fighting for her own /
interests. For Gods sake don't say |
we have identified our interests with |
any other country's.'
The Minister and the military at
tache sought at all times to mini
mize the Finnish military co-opera-
ton with Germany.