Le Nord : revue internationale des Pays de Nord - 01.06.1939, Side 516
jo 6
LE NORD
Following the out-
break of hostilities be-
tween Germany and
Poland, the President
of the Republic on
September lst, issued
a declaration of neu-
trality similar in content to the de-
clarations announcing the neutrality
of Sweden, Norway and Denmark.
On Sunday, September 3rd, the
President issued a new declaration
of neutrality, announcing that Fin-
land would remain neutral during
the war that had broken out be-
tween, on the one hand, Germany,
and on the other, France and Great
Britain. Later, on September 15th,
the decision of the President of the
Republic announcing the neutrality
of Finland also in the event of pos-
sible further declarations of war
was published in the Statute Book.
The wording of this decision was
as follows:
“It is hereby made known that
the provisions of the declarations of
neutrality of September lst and 3rd,
1939, regarding the neutrality of
Finland, shall be observed also in
respect of other nations which par-
ticipate in the war that has broken
out.”
Special attention was directed in
Finland to the attitudes adopted by
Germany and the USSR after the
outbreak of war. The German
Minister in Helsinki, Herr R. von
Bliicher, called on the Finnish Mini-
ster of Foreign Affairs already on
the second day of the war, Septem-
ber 2, and made, inter alia the fol-
lowing announcement:
“In accordance with the friendly
relations existing between our two
countries, we have decided to abs-
tain in all circumstances from any-
thing that would affect the inte-
grity and inviolability of Finland
and always to respect the territory
of the Finnish State.”
During the early days of the war
between Germany and Poland, the
USSR also announced her intention
of observing neutrality towards the
belligerent Powers. Later, after the
USSR had embarked on the occu-
pation of Polish territory, notifica-
tion of USSR neutrality was made
to all Governments with whom the
USSR maintained diplomatic rela-
tions. Finland was informed that
“the USSR will observe a policy of
neutrality in relations between the
USSR and Finland.”
’W’ith reference to this announce-
ment by the USSR, Foreign Mini-
ster Erkko made public the follow-
ing statement on Sept. 17:
“As officially reported the USSR
Government, in informing the Fin-
nish Legation in Moscow of its de-
claration of war on Poland, simul-
taneously announced that it would
maintain relations of neutrality
vis-á-vis Finland. This announce-
ment has been received in Finland
with great satisfaction and is in
harmony with the spirit of the
peaceful and friendly conversations,