"At the beginning of March, Finland asked us to allow them to postpone the decision."
In the end, the date the Finns fixed for their decision passed without any decision. On the next day, they heard that peace terms had been accepted. It was not for them to criticize the Finns, he said. People who had put up such a fight as they had, must be immune from all criticism.
Mr. Chamberlain said that he wished to make absolutely clear that they rè- cognized all through that the Finhs had a right to make their own decision, in the light of facts as known them, Britain ought to accept that decision, he declared, whether they would have preferred another or not.
Except for Field-Marshal Manner-helm's request for 30,000 men in May, no request for any sort for land forces was made by the Finns, Mr. Chamberlain emphasized that if Norway and Sweden had given them passage, the British and French expedition would have arrived in Finland long before the date asked for. nor will it be adequate to safeguard their own interests. Nothing will, or can, Save them but the determin: to defend themselves and join with others who are ready to aid them in their defences."
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.