Evening star., 1942-07-08
Finland Is Reported
Anxious 10 Lessen
Ties With GERMANY
Naming Of AneIophiIe
To Holy See Regarded
As Political Move
BY PAUL GHALI,

BY PAUL GHALI,
FOREIGN Correspondent OF The Star and
Chicago Daily News
BERN, July 8--Little Finland
still longs for peace and seeks closer
relations with any European ap-
peasement center" which might help
her loosen the bonds OF Naiz pres
sure. The latest manifestation Of
this remarkably consistent attitude
in face Of Germany's momentary
success in Russia is the establish
ment OF diplomatic relations with
the Holy See and the sending to the
Vatican of the noted Anglophile,
George Gripenberg, for many years
Helsinki's representative in London.
A Rome dispatch to the Tribune
de Geneve yesterday stated that
Gripenberg's appointment can
hardly be explained by desire to
protect Catholic interests in Fin
land as the number OF Catholics
there is barely 1,500, most of them
foreigners. The reasons for the
appointment. the dispatch said, are
highly political
Hitler Demands Rebuffed.
The latest information from Fin
land to reach here strongly supports
this view and finds Finland firmer
than ever in it's refusal to support
\ German offensive against Lenin-
grad and Murmansk despite Hitler's
twice repeated demands to Finnish
Field Marshal Baron Karl Gustav
Mannerheim. According to the most
reliable source, the Firms are now
reconstructing their famous Man
nerheim line, which afforded strong
resistance against the Russian ag-
gression Of 1939-a clear indication
that they intend to maintain a de-
fenSive attitude and content them
selves with already recovered 1889
frontiers.
Finland's conditions for a sep
arate peace have been made clear
to the American Minister in Hell
sinki on various occasions, accord
ing to information here. The Firms
f1rst want q definite acknowledge
ment by the Soviets of their 1899
frontiers, backed by solemn Allied
guarantee. The second Finnish
claim appears to be more difncult
to realize and explains why the
country is still at war. After three
years OF the fiercest combat, the
Firms now are practically dependent
on Germany for supplies of wheat
meat, and above all, gasoline.
Nazis Utilize Situation.
Germany cleverly utilizes this
situation to keep Finland under her
thumb. That the Allies could now
replace Germany as Finland's sup
pliers is out OF the question. OF
course. Things might, however,
change in case of the creation of a
second front in Norway and many
Firms are reported to be looking
eagerly forward to this eventuality.
Meanwhile, until the above con-
ditions become possible and have
been fulfilled the Firms despite war
WEAKNESS will stick to their present
non-committal attitude, simultane-
ouSly seeking 10 increase all possible
Allied contacts.
Another indication that recent
Nazi successes have not produced.
either abroad or in Germany. the
result the Nazi leaders expected
came yesterday from Fanland's
neighbor, Sweden. The Stockholm
newspaper Social Demograten pub
lished report from its Berlin cor
respondent, which had passed the
German censor, stating that Berlin
circles occupy their thoughts" with
possible British peace initiative in
the near future and believe that such
initiative might find understanding
in Germany. However. the report
candidly points out that up to now
no signs OF war fatigue are apparent
among the British public.
tccpyrieht, 1912, by Chicago Daily Eews)