The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-06-26
TODAY and TOMORROW
WALTER LIPPMANN

LIPPMANN - --
and police repression, dominated
the Finnish democracy, and, there
is some reason t. think even Field
Marshal Manaerheim.
These men have been using our
friendship for the Finnish democ-
racy to serve their own sinister or
misguided ends.
The problem OF the Finnish set
tlement is how these Finnish Far
cists are to be disposed of. And
it is here that Stalia's statesman
snip will be put to the test. The
question will be whether he takes
a course which permits and en-
courages the Films themselves to
liquidate their Fascists or whether
he relies upon the Red Army and
a puppet government to perform
this necessary task. The first solu-
ton will require more magnanim-
!ty and patience than most nations,
which have suffered as Russia has
suffered, are able to display in the
heat of battle. But it is the only
right solution, and it would pay
handsome dividends in all matters
that are vital to the Soviet Union.
For it will not only disarm Fin
land more thoroughly than any
physical disarmament: It will be
the foundation Of a wholly different
relation than Russia has ever be-
fore enjoyed with the Scandinavian
peoples and in the whole region of
the Baltic. And - most vitality of
all - it will determine their atti-
tude, which is critically important,
10 the German settlement.
The only certain way to liqui-
date permanently the Finnish oil
garchy is to let the Finnish people
themselves do it. If the Red Army
dces it, these defeated and dis
credited men will obtain a new
lease of life underground; they will
acquire the support which always
goes to mea who can claim that,
whatever their mistakes, they re-
present the national cause against
foreign domination
1t would be idle to say this if
democracy in Finland were not a
genuine thing. But there can be
no real doubt that it is and, that
being the case, the great objective
OF the settlement with Finland
must be to strengthen it's position
as against the oligarchs and con-
snlrators who subverted it. Its po-
sltlton can be made as strong as
1t is possible now to make it by
giving it the same reasonable and
moderate territorial terms which
the Soviet Union offered the reac-
tlonary government, and by treat.
ing the indemnity as negotiable
1t cannot be in the real interest OF
the Soviet Union to impoverish a
friendly Finland, or by harsh
treatment to keep Finland I'm.
friendly.
If the defeat of Germany is de.
cisive, the downfall of the Finnish
ohgarchy is certain. After that the
successful reconstruction of Fin.
land will best insure tranquility of
the Soviet borders and with all her
neighbors and allies.
Though the circumstances and
the issues are very different the
same conception of their power and
their real interests ought to reign
IL the relations Of America. Brit.
ain, Russia, France and Poland,
They must be lifted above the level
Of personalities, Of old formulate.
conflicting intelligence reports. and
bits of disputed territory. The
Soviet-Polish and the Roosevelt-De
Gaulle controversies are not SO
much questions that can be resolv-
ed. They will have to be dissolved.
and absorbed into the greater cues.
ton of the settlement of the war.
The premise Of any conceivable
settlement in Europe, and perhaps
also in the world, is that in lioui-
dating German aggression over the
long period which will follow the
armistice, there will be not three.
but five, principal powers. France
and Poland are absolutely indis.
pensable in any durable European
settlement. They are the two great
neighbors of Germany, and nothing
can endure which they do not ac-
lively support.
For this reason complete un-
outstanding between Poland and
the Soviets should be determined
Dy the need to have a strong Pc.
land, which by its own authentic
Will, IS the ally OF the Soviet Union
ana one OF the maker and enforcers
Of the German coff1oyoep+