Letter from Finland

When people ask the Communist-hating, independence-loving Finns how it feels to live next door to Soviet Russia, they merely shrug and reply that they’ve lived next door to the Russians for hundreds of years and one can get used to anything. This implies no cynical acceptance of the unremitting Soviet efforts to conquer Finland by infiltration and subversion.

The Finns fought their first war with the Russians in 1495; and in the succeeding centuries took them on eleven more times, an average of more than twice a century. Finnish territory was surrendered to Russia at various times, and some of it is still in Russian hands. But all attempts at Russification have so far failed; and if Communist Russia ever gets a holding grip on Finland it will only be through betrayal from within, something the Finns comprehend perfectly.

IK

About the Author

Irene Corbally Kuhn

Featured Tags

When people ask the Communist-hating, independence-loving Finns how it feels to live next door to Soviet Russia, they merely shrug and reply that they’ve lived next door to the Russians for hundreds of years and one can get used to anything. This implies no cynical acceptance of the unremitting Soviet efforts to conquer Finland by infiltration and subversion.

The Finns fought their first war with the Russians in 1495; and in the succeeding centuries took them on eleven more times, an average of more than twice a century. Finnish territory was surrendered to Russia at various times, and some of it is still in Russian hands. But all attempts at Russification have so far failed; and if Communist Russia ever gets a holding grip on Finland it will only be through betrayal from within, something the Finns comprehend perfectly.