FINLAND: The Baron Collects a Bauble

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Finland's Field Marshal Baron Carl Gustaf Mannerheim dropped in last week on a noted acquaintance. Adolf Hitler, at the Führer's field headquarters somewhere in Shangrila. In Berne and Berlin (but not in Helsinki) the meeting was billed as a return visit, for Hitler had dropped in last month on the Baron's 75th birthday party in Helsinki (TIME, June 15) to give him the Grand Cross of the Order of the German Eagle and have a little talk. Last week's meeting, said Berlin, was "marked by hearty friendship." Hermann Göring gave the Baron the Golden German Aviation Medal with Diamonds.

The Baron's journey and his growing collection of Nazi gewgaws did much to dampen rumors of an early Finnish-Russian peace which have been flying around United Nations capitals. The hopeful had been hoping that little Finland, a bit fed up with her German alliance, might make peace with Russia, her old enemy, if the United Nations would guarantee that Russia would be held perpetually in check after victory. Germany would not like that, and it was unlikely that the Baron and his host even mentioned it, in their little talks between amenities. It seemed more probable that they were still bickering about how much help Finland should contribute to the expected offensive against Russia's Murmansk railroad.