Malleson, Constance [aka O'Niel, Colette], Letter, 10 September 1941

00001239-2.jpg
Description: 
to Bertrand Russell

Tabs

Case Study: 
“Life or Death of the World”: Letters from England and Scandinavia, 1939-1945
Creator: 
Malleson, Constance [aka O'Niel, Colette]
Source: 
letter
Date: 
10 September 1941
Place: Sundborn, Sweden
Collection/Fonds: 
Contributer: 
McMaster University Libraries
Rights: 
Copyright, public domain: McMaster University owns the rights to the archival copy of the digital image in TIFF format.

Identifier: 
00001239-2
Language: 
eng
Type: 
image
Format: 
jpg
Transcript: 

[partial transcription]
(2)
... I am horrified at the narrow, one-sided view England takes of Finland: overlooking all Finland’s difficulties: seeing only the English view. I should very much like to know what you feel about that. Trevor C[ash] takes a more pro-English view that I: but feels great pity for Finland and the Finns, which he loves, but feels their Government have allowed themselves to become the tool of Germany. What else could they do – threatened on every side: the only alternative I see was for them to become another Poland. Of course I deplore their defensive war being turned into a war of aggression upon Russian soil. Trevor C[ash] says the Finnish hatred of Russia, or Bolsheviks, or both, is too blind to be any good or do them any good. He says it’s generated by upper class Finns, not native to the poorer class. I don’t greatly agree. Finland cannot be moved to another corner of Europe – and must always be on guard to all eternity against the Russian millions – it seems to me....
The impression I get is that people here fear Germany more than Russia and therefore hate her more... .I’m lucky in having been so much in Sweden before the war: the local folk up here are very kind – civilised and polite as all Swedes are. Have felt too poor to get in touch with richer, town friends. … I spend much time chopping wood, drawing water, etc. etc. Labour is scarce, men are in the army. No oil, few candles – which may make me move into Falun (nearest town) when it gets dark at 1 p.m. ...