PEACEFUL CO-OPERATION

Speech delivered at a reception given by the President of the Council of State of Poland in Warsaw, 3 March 1964

As you pointed out in your speech, Mr. President^1, Finland and Poland, as a result of different experiences and different conditions, have followed separate paths in their development. Poland has chosen the road of socialism in co-operation with other socialist states. Finland has maintained her traditional Nordic social and economic order, while pursuing a foreign policy of neutrality. These differences have not prevented -- and indeed they must not prevent -- the establishment of good co-operation between our two countries on the basis of mutual respect. Our relations have in fact developed favourably in the past years in trade as well as in other spheres. I sincerely hope that this visit will further encourage this development. This, I believe, would benefit both our countries.

1 Aleksander Zawadzki.

Finland`s policy of neutrality -- our desire to stay outside the conflicts of interest between the great powers -- does not mean a withdrawal from peaceful international co-operation. On the contrary, constructive and unprejudiced cooperation with our neighbours as well as in wider international contexts is a necessary prerequisite for maintaining the necessary confidence in our neutrality. Our co-operation with our Nordic brother nations has become ever closer on the basis of our common cultural heritage. In our relations with our Eastern neighbour, the Soviet Union, we have succeeded, I believe, in replacing the suspicions and intolerance that formerly prevailed with the mutual respect and confidence that a good neighbourly relationship requires, and on this basis developed fruitful exchanges in many fields to the benefit of both countries. In view of the heavy burden of the past this was not an easy task, and we Finns have all the more reason to be gratified by the success achieved in this respect. Also our traditional relations with the Western world have developed favourably, and our policy of neutrality has received the recognition of both the leading Western Powers and the Soviet Union.

I am indeed convinced that peaceful co-existence would remain unfulfilled if it were regarded as meaning merely the abandonment of the use of force in relations between states. Only the development of international co-operation in all fields across the ideological frontiers can gradually remove the hostility and fear that poison international relations. The United Nations Organization offers the nations of the world a ready-made instrument for the strengthening of peaceful co-existence on a world-wide scale. Finland on her part will continue to do all in her power to support the United Nations in this task. We are also prepared to examine with an open mind other means, consistent with our foreign policy, designed to strengthen peaceful development.

In today`s world, differences in national interests are transcended by the overriding necessity of securing world peace. All nations today are faced with the fact that the settlement of international disputes by peaceful means, and peaceful co-operation between all states regardless of ideological differences, is not only possible but necessary for the prevention of a nuclear war that threatens the existence of mankind.

Small nations have only limited possibilities of influencing the course of events. This does not mean that they need resign themselves to inaction. The least they can do is to refrain from anything that might increase tension and the risk of war. With this in mind I put forward in May last year my proposal aimed at declaring the Nordic states a nuclear-free zone, to which you, Mr President, referred in your speech. In spite of the fact that two of the Nordic states, Denmark and Norway, are members of a military alliance, and the other two, Finland and Sweden, have remained outside of alliances, they in fact form an area in which there are no nuclear weapons. This in my view has contributed to keeping the Nordic states a relatively peaceful area in Europe. If the present situation were to be confirmed in the manner I have proposed, the peaceful status of the Nordic area would be secured and a constructive contribution made towards a gradual reduction of tension.

This is of course a question which the Nordic states must deal with among themselves. But it is also a part of the general problem of preventing the proliferation of nuclear weapons. I have studied with great interest the proposals made by the Polish Government regarding the Central European area. In my view they deserve most serious attention.

In this world of ever-increasing interdependence between all nations, we must learn to consider each other`s legitimate interests and practise mutual understanding and tolerance in order to live in peace as good neighbours. This does not mean that any nation need abandon its own values. We Finns have always stubbornly believed that we ourselves know best how to order our own affairs. But we realize that mature patriotism does not require a denial of the achievements and values of other nations. I do not think I am wrong in believing that this attitude is shared by the Polish people.