NO HURRY IN HELSINKI

Finnish-Russian peace negotiations were still in the never-never stage of rumor and 'hind-scenes talk. One fact was known: the Finnish Government still refused to accept Russian terms which--to everybody but the Finns--had seemed surprisingly mild.

A supposition abroad had been that the Finnish people, yearning for peace, were kept in the war solely by Nazi pressure and the duplicity of their Russophobic Government. Last week TIME Correspondent John Scott, visiting Helsinki, found evidence that this idea was wishful nonsense. Finland's Nazi allies had indeed brought pressure; the Helsinki Government had indeed been stubborn. But the war also had popular backing; Finns in general simply did not believe that they had been beaten, hence saw no reason to hurry into peace on Russian terms. Cabled Scott:

"Helsinki is a better-fed, better-dressed, more normal-looking wartime capital than I expected to find it. Bomb damage from three major Russian raids in February is not nearly so noticeable as in Liverpool, for example. Many houses have unbroken windows and I have seen only three completely destroyed houses, three more completely burned out .(one of which is the Soviet Legation building).

"Everyone in Helsinki tells me that the Finnish food situation is now substantially better than it was twelve months ago. In general, the Helsinki food situation is comparable with that in London. In a half-dozen restaurants excellent meals are obtainable at 'economic' (i.e., high) prices. But, as in Britain's capital, hundreds of working-class restaurants are giving the man on the street enough to eat at reasonable prices. . . .

"Clothes are difficult to obtain in Helsinki but most people on the street are as well-dressed as the London wartime average. One sees many soldiers on the streets, mostly Finnish, some German, well-dressed and seemingly of good morale.

"As far as most ordinary Finns can see both on the front and in the rear, Finland is an undefeated country in which wartime life is difficult but by no means intolerable. . . .

"The impression of most observers in Helsinki whom I have talked to is--in any case the Government should not close the doors for further negotiations with the Russians, but should try to get better terms than those which are now being discussed. Most Finns want peace under conditions which would assure Finland liberty and independence, but many doubt whether the present Russian proposals guarantee these to Finland."

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