ON THE NORDIC DAY

Broadcast in Helsinki on 28 September 1951

Although fate has often led the Nordic countries along outwardly different paths, the internal development of these countries has been surprisingly similar in many respects. This is, of course, no mere chance but the logical result of historical, geographical and cultural events. The traditional Nordic democracy, which has naturally taken on new forms in the course of time, has often progressed concurrently in all the Nordic countries to a growing number of sectors of society. A common feature of this development has been that at the same time as society has sought to improve and level the living conditions of the different groups of citizens, every effort has been made to protect individual freedom of action.

The Nordic nations have been able to learn from one another in many walks of life, and the liveliness of the interchanges between our countries shows how readily progress in this corner of the world has been brought to the neighbour`s knowledge and benefit. And as the internal conditions have, as I have said, been very similar in these countries, it has been easy to apply the advances made by a neighbour in one`s own country and to improve upon them.

When we hear a person who comes from one of the Nordic countries, irrespective of his position and status in the community, tell about the domestic events and problems of his own country, it often sounds very familiar to us. The ease with which our peoples are capable of understanding one another, even when our paths differ outwardly, is understandable against this background.

We may compare the Nordic countries with a village inhabited by a number of equal neighbours. It would be unnatural, indeed contrary to everybody`s own interests, if these neighbours should fail to associate with one another and had no common interests and aims, at least in many practical matters. Thanks to their neighbourship, there are in fact lively contacts between the Nordic countries. Let us mention only cultural life, social activity and the legal system, which is developed and in some respects even standardized through joint negotiations. This naturally facilitates further the interaction between our peoples.

The Nordic countries have shown the world through longterm peaceful management of their relations that nations can live in concord and peace provided that they sincerely desire to do so and know one another sufficiently well. It is perhaps partly because of this that the corner of the world inhabited by our peoples is today one of the most peaceful parts of the world. We would be acting contrary to our own interests if we did not continue to further this development. I believe, in fact, that our peoples wish from their very heart to live in peace, since these small Nordic nations know from experience that only peace brings the conditions for developing their vital cultural characteristics, thereby adding to the common knowledge and skills of mankind.