Sibelius to U.S.

Last week the great Jean Sibelius, 76-year-old Finnish composer, appealed to the U.S. people not to deny Finland their sympathy, since Finland had to make a hard and bitter choice. Said he:

"In 1939 my fatherland was attacked by the Bolsheviks. Enlightened American people then realized we were fighting not only for our freedom but for all Western civilization and they gave us valuable assistance.

"Now ... I am convinced that freedom-loving, intelligent American people will rightly understand and appreciate the present situation, realizing that the Bolshevization of Europe would annihilate freedom and civilization on this continent."

Composer Sibelius did not mention that the "barbaric hordes of the East" had not bombed Finland this time until Finland had taken Hitler as her ally. But that was the bitterness which was Finland's choice. Had she not so chosen, she might have been mercilessly attacked by the equally barbaric and far more dangerous hordes of the West.

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