Evening star., 1948-12-05

have meant war with the Soviet
Union.
Such aid could, however. have
come effectively only through Scan
dinaVa, which sought desperately to
maintain its neutrality. SO Finland,
left alone, was presently over
whelmed by the modified might Of
Russia. In mid-March Of 1910, the
Films were obliged to sign a treaty
giving Russia everything originally
demanded. The terms were hard. Be-
sides the strategic bases which gave
Russia military dominance over the
country, the rich border province
OF Karelia, adjoining Russia, had
to be ceded, though virtually the
entire population, numbering some
100000, left their homes and became
refugees in Finland rather than
pass under the Russian yoke.
Joined Axis, Left With Reds
Then, only a year later, came the
split between Hitler and Stalin. The
gigantic Nad war machine struck
for the very heart of the Soviet
Union, with seeming success. To
the embittered Firms, this appeared
an opportunity to get back their own
which could not be missed. So Fin.
land joined in the attack on Rus.
sia, though with the limited objec.
tive of recovering what was right.
fully hers. Nevertheless, this siding
with the Axis forfeited for Finland
the sympathy of the Western Pow.
ers, joined by America year later.
So Finland was left once more alone
with the Russian giant when the
Axis collapsed, and was forced once
more to make = peace on MoScow's
terms. Those terms were even
harsher than the treaty of 1910.
More territory had to be ceded, plus
a war indemnity Of crushing weight
for Finlsnd's war-depleted economy.
Nevertheless, Moscow did not ex.
tinguish Finland as q nation. Per-
haps the masters Of the Kremlin
felt that Russia was too exhausted
by its life-and-death struggle with
Nazi Germany to take on the ex.
termination of so tough and liberty
loving a people as the Firms. Per-
haps they calculated that, by con.
cessions, they might eventually win
over Finland to voluntary co-opera-
ton. In any event, Finland, though
disarmed, militarily dominated, and
mortgaged by the war indemnity,
was left legally free to run its own
show, 50 long as it walked humbly
and gave no offense to Moscow.
How the Films have reconstructed
their national life and preserved
their democratic institutions under
the shadow OF Soviet totalitarian-
ism is perhaps. the greatest mir
acie Of postwar Europe. Where
even free loving Czechoslovakis
failed, Finland has thus far sue
ceeded. To be sure, Finland has
It's Communist minority, aided and
abetted by Moscow, and scheming
for control. Yet Communist mach
nations have been kept within
bounds, even though necessarily toll
Grated for fear or Russian reprisals.
And last July the Finnish people
had the courage to hold free and
fair elections wherein the Commu-
nists were denoted to the status
of a minor party in the new Parlia-
ment.
Communists Erupt
Then Finland's current troubles
began. The Communists were Of
fered places in a projected coali-
ton cabinet corresponding to their
just weight in Parliament. This
offer was refused. The Communists
demanded strategic cabinet posts far
beyond their electoral status,
through which they could continue
their infiltrating strategy. When
their demands were rejected, the
Communist-dominated minority Of
Finnish labor was melted to make
q series OF strikes, essentially politi"
cal In character, and designed like
those of France and elsewhere to
disrupt the country's economic life
and intinidate the democratic ma.
jority. In support of those strikes,
the Moscow press and radio de-
nounced the Finnish government for
its Fascist" tendencies and limited
darkly at what might ensue II pres
ent policies were unaltered.
Nevertheless, the Finnish govern.
ment has persisted in its course.
The strikes were kept within bounds
and order was maintained. Treaty
commitments. including indemnity
payments, have been scrupulously
kept. Russian provocations have
been blandly ignored. No excuse
for Russian Intervention has been
given. Finland's precarious inde-
pendence Is thus being preserved.
How long this situation can be
maintained is, Of course, problemat.
ical. In the last analysis, it pre-
sumably depends on Soviet policy.
Moscow's "forebearance" toward
Finland has thus far served the
larger interests of Moscow, which
can point to Finland as a sort Of
showpiece illustrating the posi-.
bility of friendly relations between
the Soviet Union and a "burgeois"
state. To violate treaty commit-
ments and intervene forcibly in
Finland would destroy that stock
theme of Soviet and Communist
propaganda, besides further arous-
ing the wrath Of the civilized world.
This, combined with the fact OF
Finland's intrinsic powerieSsness,
tends to stay Moscow's heavy hand.
Yet it may be questioned how
much longer q vigorous, self-respeet-
ing democracy can be tolerated on
the very border Of the Soviet Union.