Evening star., 1944-06-30
u. S. Sewers Ties With Finland,
Described as German 'Puppet';
Reds Crossing River NeorMinsk
Note Delivered to
Legation Here Cites
Link With Enemy
BY JOSEPH H. BAIRD

Charging that the present
Finnish government is merely a
''puppet of Nazi Germany" the
United States Government today
broke of relations with Fin
land.
This action was announced with
release of a note from Secretary
of State Hull, delivered by George r.
Summerlin of the State Depart
ment's protocol division to Alexan-
der Thesleff, charge d'affaires of
the Finnish Legation.
The break which had been ex-
pected following disclosure of the
new close alliance between Finland
and Germany, marks the end of
many efforts over a period of more
than two years by the American
Government to make peace between
Finland and Russia.
The State Department quoted an
announcement by the Finnish gov
ernment, made after a recent visit
to Helsinki by the Nazi Foreign
Minister, Joachim Won Ribbentrop
as the reason for its action.
The departments note pointed
out that this Government was not
unaware Of the fact that Finland
had lost completely its liberty Of
action and was now a creature sub--
ject to Nazi demands.
Follows Election of Procope.
Severance of diplomatic relations
followed the election earlier this
month OF the Finnish Minister,
Hjalmar j. .Procope, and three of his
aides for actions "inimical" to this
Government. Mr.. Procope and two
of the aides are now en- route to
Finland.
The note handed to Mr.. Theslaff
said:
"On June ~. 1914, the Finnish
government made the following an
nouncement:
The German foreign minister,
Won Ribbentrop, has concluded his
visit to the Finnish government.
During this visit, questions of in
terest to Finland and Germany were
discussed, especially Finland's ex-
pressed desire with respect to mill
tary aid. The German government
has declared itself prepared to COM
ply with this wish of the Finnish
government.
The discussions which were con-
Quoted between the President of the
Finnish republic, Ryti, and Foreign
Minister Ramsay on one side, and
the German foreign minister on the
other. are sustained by the spirit
which has its roots in the comrade-
ship In arms between the armies and
the existing friendship between the
two peoples.
4 4 Complete agreement and under
standing were reached on all points
between the Finnish government
and the German government
Deprived Of Liberty Of Action.
"The Finnish government has
thus formally admitted to the world
that 1t has now entered hard and
fast military partnership with Nazi
Germany, irrevocable throughout
the war, for the purpose of lighting
the Allies of the United States, in
alliance with the enemies of the
United States. This action was
taken without recourse to the estab-
lished democratic procedure of Fin
land, and responsibility for the con-
sequences must rest solely on the
Finnish government.
The American Government is not
unaware of the fact that with the
inflltration Of German troops into
Finland, with the consent of the
Finnish government, and German
infiltration into the councils of the
Finnish government have deprived
Finland OF liberty of action and re-
duced the government Of the Repub-
lie of Finland to the condition of a
puppet of Nazi Germany.
This necessarily changes the
(See FTNI AND Page A-41