Evening star., 1948-03-28

with the Soviet Union might be
so distasteful as to produce a cab
met crisis and prevent the forma-
ton of new government. In the
absence of any other occupants, the
Communists might undertake to fill
the offices. Yet even this is un-
likely.
For one thing, only three of the
1S ministers are open Communists.
Three others have Communist SYM
pathies. Blackjack methods on the
rest would be more apt to produce
civil war than agreement.
More important is the fact that
the Finnish leaders have seen with
clear eyes what happened in
Czechoslovakia. They are deter
mined not to give the Communists
a similar opening here. The pill
may be bitter one at Moscow,
but it probably will be swallowed,
for the time being at least. They
will avoid a cabinet crisis by every
means possible.
Communists have attacked the
Finnish leaders for stalling the
negotiations with Moscow. Yet
everything suggests that this is ex-
actly what Helsinki is trying to do.
Regular parliamentary elections for
the next three years will be held
July l.
People Fatalistic
1t is the fervent hope of every
one but the Communists that these
may be carried through in an or
derly and free manner, without
outside Interference, or internal dis
orders. Anything the Soviet Union
might undertake after that, they
feel, would label itself as plain ag-
gression without a semblance Of
legal basis.
Most Finnish leaders are not
gratuitously looking for trouble with
their eastern neighbor. They are
perfectly sincere when they say
they want firm and frank relations
with the Soviet Union" But there
are limits beyond which they will
not 90.
A new military alliance seems
out Of the question, unless it is inn
posed by force, Economic relation
ships already have been placed on
the broadest kind of basis through
trade treaty negotiated last Mo-
vember and signed only March 5.
What seems most likely is a closer,
but reluctant tieup with the political
future of Eastern Europe in which
Finland will retain the appearances,
at least, of internal liberty, but
much less freedom of action in its
foreign affairs.
Among the Finnish people them
selves there is an amazing, oriental
like, fatalism. They hope for the
best. They are prepared for the
worst.
We've had hard times before"
they say. We'll go through them
again, If we must. Destiny so far
has been very kind"
Influence of Reparations
The Soviet Unions reparations
account against Finland is serving
at. least four distinct purposes
The first, and obvious one, is the
repayment to Russia of some Of
the tremendous expense it incurred
in the common war against Nazi
Germany.
The peace treaty to which Fin
land subscribed in Paris in 1946
agreed that these payments were
mot in full, but only in part" It
fixed their total at $500, ,0Oo, 900 to be
paid in six years, a period later ex-
tended by the Russians in a moment
Of apparent generosity, to eight.
But this was only the beginning.
The Soviet Union was given broad
powers to specify the types of
reparations payments. Heavy penal
ties running up to go per cent
year, may be assessed against Fin
land for failure to meet any one
of number categories of deliveries.
Reparations, it has been discov-
cred, is accomplishing at least three
other things, in addition to repaying
the Soviet Union. These are:
Switching the outlook and de-
pendence of Finnish economy from
the West to the East.
Like a Finance Company Deal
Supplying the Russians with an
easily manipulated and powerful
lever for influencing Finlands in
ternal affairs.
Building up in "demilitarized"
Finland a remote and shielded base
for potential war production far be-
yond anything Finland ever had
when it was fighting wars on its
own behalf.
How the Soviet Union arrived at
the original figure of $500, ,o00, 900 for
war reparations remains something
of a mystery. I was in Moscow in
1914 when the original armistice
were under way. We
tried then to learn from Andrei
Vishinsky, Deputy Foreign Min
lister, how the total had been de-
cided. The explanations were
sketchy and incomplete.
Now 1t appears that the original
bill was like the first note to a
finance company. The charges have
been going up ever since.
Finnish officials insist they
thought current prices would be the
of the payments. The So.
Wet Union has insisted instead that
1888 world prices be used. Adjust
ments of 10 to Is per cent in Fin
rsaAn Int -