FINLAND: Unconditional Condition

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In Finland the clock stands at 5 minutes to 12. Every Finn knows that the war must end with Germany and Finland the losers. Like characters in a Greek tragedy, foreseeing their own destruction but unwilling or unable to lift a hand to stay their fate, the Finns hold to their stand toward Russia: peace only on conditions satisfactory to Finland.

At the least, Finns believe, such conditions should include return to the frontiers which Russia offered Finland before the winter war of 1939 and which the Finns then refused. Yet Finland is in the worst external and internal situation of its history. Germany, in retreat, is a fair-weather friend. Sweden and the U.S. show open signs of disapproval. Soviet Russia, whom Finns have long hated and now fear, is hardening her attitude with every mile of the Red Army's advances.

A Russian-language broadcast by the Finnish radio last week underscored Helsinki's dilemma: "Finland wants peace and is willing, to make peace with Russia. . . . What concerns Finland is that . . . unconditional surrender should contain certain conditions satisfactory to Finland. . . . Finland certainly cannot plunge blindly into peace negotiations."