ABSTRACT
The Finns are in a difficult situation. Although they consider themselves a part of the west, they have decided that they must work closely with the Soviets. They came to this conclusion after two wars, in which they suffered terrible casualties. The 1947 peace treaty placed limits on the peacetime size of their armed forces. The main limiting factor today, however, is money. As a result, the forces have serious deficiencies. In event of a crisis, the Soviets could call on the Finns to consult under their 1948 friendship treaty. The question is whether the weakness of their armed forces could affect the willingness of Finnish leaders to resist Soviet pressures.
