Evening star., 1944-09-05
Hull and StoIin Hailed
For Soviet-Finn Pact

ss oe
Forbearance Of Both Ausurs Well
for World Peace, Says Writer
By David Laurence
More important TO the world than the
fact Of Finland's withdrawal from the
war is the method used In arranging .
truce With Russia.
For this Secretary Hull deserves the
tributes Of his countrymen. and Mar
shal Stain the applause Of the whole
world for his sensational exhibition Of
forbearance in dealing with . smaller
nation With which Russia has been ut
war.
The influence Of the United States
has been exerted constantly for the
last several months in the hope of se-
curing for Finland An honorable peace
emy from her borders.
There were times in recent months
when the Secretary OF State was criti-
cized yehemently for abruptness and
even hard-heartedness as he found 1t
necessary In order to gain Russia's con-
fidence to break diplomatic relations
with the Washington representatives Of
Helsinki's pro-German government.
Every one In Washington liked Hjalmar
Procope but he was, after all, the agent
Of government that was playing Ger
many's game
Larger Picture.
Once the Firms came to understand
that the United States was In earnest
and that the Finnish German alliance
had to end, and once Russia saw that
the United States was concerned only
with the larger picture and would in
sist on the independence OF small ma
tions like Finland, the road to q truce
was opened.
1t will be noted that unconditional
surrender" was not demanded Of Fin
land by Russia. It will be noted that
the boundaries for the present were
fixed on the 1910 basis 50 that Finland
Is not penalized for the mistakes OF
her governmental leaders who bowed
perhaps involuntarily to Berlin's die
tation.
The episode is tremendously signifi-
cant. Those who have been portraying
Stain and Russia as greedy for terri
tory and as eager to trample on the
rights and aspirations of small nations
must now revise their judgments. 1t
augurs well for the peace Of the world
that Russia can give in the midst OF
these passionate days Of total war such
an example of self-restraint and such
profound manifestation Of the unwis-
dom of seeking revenge upon q weaker
neighbor
Finland and Russia must live side
by side geographically. Unquestion-
ably there will be residue of bitterness
but Russia has shown herself magnani-
nous and >broad-gauged in victory. It
will help to reduce the resentment on
both sides of the border.
| Perplexing Subject.
What went on behind the scenes will
| probably never be revealed in detail
because Moscow and Washington had
F., ever so many conversations and ex-
changed numerous memoranda on the
perplexing subject Of Finnish peace But
the objective was never lost sight Of
and the American Government never
relaxed its concern for the Finnish peo-
pie whose interests it has tried hard TO
protect.
| Whether the ultimate peace treaty
will be diplomatic concession by Rus
sia to her new friend in the world-the
| United States-or whether it is the
forerunner Of many anothSe example Of
Russian-American cooperation, the
American people can justly hope that
| one by one the obstacles to the smooth
functioning of an international secur-
ity league will be removed. One such
obstacle has been distrust OF the man
ner or method by which larger coun-
tries would use their power. Every new
evidence of unselhshness builds firmer
the foundation Of mutual trust.
| There is every reason why Finland
and Russia, and Finland and the Unit
ed States, as well as Russia and the
| United States, should look upon the
| truce just concluded as a milestone in
international behavior Again, for the
| patience, foresight and perseverance OF
Secretary Hull in the face Of unin-
formed criticism there should be in
| America warm expression of graft
tude.