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Show A MISGUIDED CONSUL. Thornwall Hayncs, American consul at IIclBingfors, Finland, has a queer idea of his own country's duty toward the Finns. Although they have allied themselves with Germany, he thinks that the United States should supply them with food. The consul, seeking for an argument to bolster up his odd contention, recalls that the republic of Finland was recognized recog-nized by the French government. No doubt the government at Paris keenly deplores its hasty action and wishes that it had shown as much restraint as the governments in Washington and London. The de facto government in Finland, which has sent out the army of "White Guards" to establish their authority, is acting as the willing servant of Berlin. At tho roquost of the Finnish government govern-ment Germany landed in southern Finland Fin-land an army which is co-operating with tho White Guards. The Red Guards, who are opposing tho White Guards, are Bolskeviki, but It is not clear that they are getting the support of Lenine and Trotzky. A few days ago it was reported that Lenine had instructed his troops to disarm any of the Red Guards driven from Finnish to Russian soil. While the situation is as complex as a nightmare, the remote observer is able to grasp a few salient points. The new Finnish government is accepting military mili-tary support from Germany; the Lenine government appears to be aiding Germany Ger-many wherever it can, whereas the Finnish Fin-nish Red Guards are opposing Teutonic armies co-operating with the White Guards. Moreover, British and French troops on the Mourmansk coast, along which are stored thousands of tons of entente supplies, are aiding the Finnish Red Guards. If, therefore, we have any food to send to Russia, it should not be put at tho disposal of the de facto government for which Mr. Ilaynes is acting as apologist. It should be sent to those elements of the population supporting the causo of the allies. Tho dominant forces in Finland accepted ac-cepted Germany 's dictation too. readily. In their eagerness to throw off the Russian 3-oko they associated themselves with the brutal autocracy at Berlin and they should be willing to survive or perish with that power. It is quite true that the situation is obscure and that it is not advisable to judge the entire population of Finland by the acts of a ruling faction, but surely sure-ly it would be unwise for us to further limit food shipments to our allies in order to succor the allies of Germany. If the people of Finland show that the controlling faction does not represent the majority sentiment of the country, our government may then consider the advisability of revictualing and financing financ-ing Finland. The best proof of Finnish neutrality would be the overthrow of the de facto government and the expulsion expul-sion of the German armies. |