A visit of members of the Finnish Parliament of all
parties, from Conservative to Communist, is very welcome, for Finland is in many ways in a very difficult position and sympathy here with her is strong. Incidentally, moreover, about a quarter of Finland's trade, both import and export, is with this country. The 'Finnish deputies are anxious to make it clear that they are by no means behind an iron curtain, but able and eager to maintain contact with the democracies of the world. But there are, of course, limits to that. While rela- tions with Sweden are most cordial there can be no question of any defensive alliance between Finland and the Scandinavian States ; Russia would never countenance that for a moment. Finland was equally, and for the same reason, precluded from joining in the Marshall Aid plan. However, though the frontier between Finland and Russia is tightly closed, Russia does not appear to be interfering in Finnish internal affairs ; the Communists lost seats at the recent general election, the indemnity exacted by Russia after the 1939 war is being paid off in advance of schedule, and the outlook as a whole is not too sombre.
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