Word: finland
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Dates: during 1960-1969
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Soviet pressure against Finland had mounted steadily since last month, when Moscow demanded joint military talks to meet the alleged threat of West German "aggression." As Tass reported the Siberian table talk, Khrushchev told the Finnish leader that, "before it is too late," the frontier of Finland and the Soviet Union must be fortified against the NATO partners West Germany, Denmark and Norway. "All-round cooperation between our two countries." continued Khrushchev, "requires firm confidence that Finland will abide tomorrow, as it does today, by its chosen foreign policy line"-strict neutrality based on friendship with Russia...
Probably the larger purpose of Khrushchev's threat was to intimidate Finland's Scandinavian neighbors, neutral Sweden and NATO allies Denmark and Norway. So far, the threat has failed, as was demonstrated at another luncheon meeting last week by Norwegian Foreign Minister Halvard M. Lange, who traveled to Moscow for talks. In a speech, Lange was publicly berated by Deputy Premier Anastas Mikoyan for Norway's NATO membership. Angrily, Lange rose to reply, saying in effect that Norway had no intention of withdrawing from NATO: "This is a political reality. The last war taught us that...
...Britain received the news grimly. Washington saw the "absurd" pretext of a German threat as the opening bid for stationing Soviet troops on Finnish soil while diverting attention from Soviet pressure on Berlin. Ultimately, Moscow might intend to whisk neutral Finland behind the Iron Curtain, lock the Baltic door behind her. The Swedes felt the same fears, and there was growing talk about reconsidering Sweden's historic neutrality. NATO member Norway, which shares a 390-mile frontier with Finland in the north, prepared to draw up new defense plans...
Only the Finns, who have learned to smile in the face of the Russian bear, kept calm. For 17 years Finland has managed the most spectacular balancing act in Europe. Perched on Russia's doorstep, Finland has had to permit Soviet meddling in its internal affairs to the point of allowing the ouster of anti-Communist Cabinet ministers; nevertheless, the country has remained strongly independent and has prospered economically while maintaining a vigorous democracy...
...morning of Nov. 30, 22 years ago, a Soviet land-sea-air offensive against Finland ended prolonged negotiations over Soviet demands for Finnish territory. Numerically overpowering Russian troops expected to overrun Finland in days, but heroic resistance by skillful, ski-equipped troops fought the enemy to a virtual standstill until the final collapse of the Finns 16 weeks later...