Le Nord : revue internationale des Pays de Nord - 01.06.1942, Page 39

FINNISH EMIGRATION
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Soon after Finland became independent, public opinion was
roused to a realistic attitude to the matter and to look upon our
fellow-countrymen settled abroad as still coming within the
sphere of the national interest, so that every effort should be
made to maintain and develop contact with them.
On the other hand, some of the emigrants, especially in the
earlier periods, had carried with them disappointing memories
and impressions of the homeland, while their idealization of
America had given them inflated ideas of that country; all this
did not conduce to a positive attitude towards Finland.
It appears, though this cannot be proved, that a certain
amount of misleading information about the home country
tended to strengthen this critical attitude; yet many of them
had also pleasanter memories, while their traditions and general
mentality led them to surround themselves with something of
the familiar atmosphere and culture, to settle as far as possible
under natural conditions resembling those at home, and to con-
tinue ways of living and customs similar to those they already
knew. In this way a positive national spirit began to emerge and
left its impress on their religious, ethical, social, and political
endeavours.
It is true that in the early stages of the Socialist movement
during the first years of the present century, the international
outlook of Socialism tended somewhat to weaken national feeling
among more radical-minded Finnish Americans, and this ten-
dency was increased by the wounds left by the civil strife which
accompanied our War of Independence. Later on, the Communist
propaganda directed from Russia, and the widespread enlistment
activities for her ideal society, especially for the Republic of East
Carelia, tended to strengthen the unfriendliness of some workers
towards the home country. But the Russian attack on Finland
in 1939 and the Winter War brought about a reversion of feel-
ing, even among Communists.
The American Finns have at different times, and especially
during the Winter War, given great support to the home country,
especially in the form of aid to children and the poorer classes,
by collecting considerable sums of money, and by other kinds
of assistance.
Relations between the Finns overseas and the old country
have been considerably affected by the difficulty of understand-
ing and keeping abreast of the changes which have taken place