NEWS OF THE WEEK
WHETHER in the end Finland chooses peace or not, the moderation of the terms offered her by Russia is a good omen for other negotiations with other enemy belligerents when the time comes. Finland, of course, is not affected by the " no surrender " formula agreed upon by President Roosevelt and Mr. Churchill at Casablanca. That referred specifically to Germany, Italy and Japan. Marshal Stalin therefore took a perfectly normal course in placing before the Finns specific and detailed conditions of peace. They are remarkably lenient. Apart from one or two secondary points reserved for subsequent discussions, Finland is merely called on to revert to the position existing in 1941, when she wantonly joined Germany in the latter's unprovoked attack on Russia. There is indeed one stipulation necessitated by the present military situation. The German troops in the north of Finland are to be interned, and if the Finns cannot effect that operation unaided the Russians will give them adequate assistance, undertaking to withdraw from the country as soon as their mission is discharged. This, it can hardly be doubted, is the point on which the negotia- tions may break down. Germany will certainly not let Finland go quietly out of the war, and capitulation may mean that the country will become a battle-ground. On the other hand, the Finns know that they are beaten, and that Germany is beaten. They have experienced the power of the Russian air-arm, and air-attacks will be more frequent and more effective as the advancing Russian armies acquire airfields on the southern shore of the Gulf of Finland. They know, moreover, that the Russian peace-terms have been approved not only by Great Britain but by the United States, with which Finland is not at war—though she soon may be if this oppor- tunity of making peace is neglected. The decision is undeniably difficult for Finland to make. Various indications suggest that both the Government and the people are anxious to end the war, and there are reports that a delegation is to go to Moscow in the hope— which seems bound to be vain—of getting better terms from Russia. The next few days should determine the issue. If the choice is peace The effect both on the military situation and on the policy of other of Germany's satellites will be considerable.
