THE CANADIAN IMAGE of FINLAND, 1919–1948 Canadian Government Perceptions and Foreign Policy
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B 164 OULU 2018 B 164 UNIVERSITY OF OULU P.O. Box 8000 FI-90014 UNIVERSITY OF OULU FINLAND ACTA UNIVERSITATIS OULUENSIS ACTA UNIVERSITATIS OULUENSIS ACTA HUMANIORAB David Ratz David Ratz University Lecturer Tuomo Glumoff THE CANADIAN IMAGE OF University Lecturer Santeri Palviainen FINLAND, 1919–1948 Postdoctoral research fellow Sanna Taskila CANADIAN GOVERNMENT PERCEPTIONS AND FOREIGN POLICY Professor Olli Vuolteenaho University Lecturer Veli-Matti Ulvinen Planning Director Pertti Tikkanen Professor Jari Juga University Lecturer Anu Soikkeli Professor Olli Vuolteenaho UNIVERSITY OF OULU GRADUATE SCHOOL; UNIVERSITY OF OULU, FACULTY OF HUMANITIES, HISTORY Publications Editor Kirsti Nurkkala ISBN 978-952-62-2032-1 (Paperback) ISBN 978-952-62-2033-8 (PDF) ISSN 0355-3205 (Print) ISSN 1796-2218 (Online) ACTA UNIVERSITATIS OULUENSIS B Humaniora 164 DAVID RATZ THE CANADIAN IMAGE OF FINLAND, 1919–1948 Canadian government perceptions and foreign policy Academic dissertation to be presented with the assent of the Doctoral Training Committee of Human Sciences of the University of Oulu for public defence in the Wetteri auditorium (IT115), Linnanmaa, on 10 October 2018, at 2 p.m. UNIVERSITY OF OULU, OULU 2018 Copyright © 2018 Acta Univ. Oul. B 164, 2018 Supervised by Doctor Olavi K. Fält Reviewed by Doctor Antti Häkkinen Doctor Donald J. Wilson Opponent Doctor Michael Stevenson ISBN 978-952-62-2032-1 (Paperback) ISBN 978-952-62-2033-8 (PDF) ISSN 0355-3205 (Printed) ISSN 1796-2218 (Online) Cover Design Raimo Ahonen JUVENES PRINT TAMPERE 2018 Ratz, David, The Canadian image of Finland, 1919–1948. Canadian government perceptions and foreign policy University of Oulu Graduate School; University of Oulu, Faculty of Humanities, History Acta Univ. Oul. B 164, 2018 University of Oulu, P.O. Box 8000, FI-90014 University of Oulu, Finland Abstract Perceptions of Finland and Finns held by Canadian government decision-makers underscore the relations between the two countries. The individuals involved had definite views of what Finland and Finns were like and these images were at times openly expressed or inferred from the archived government departmental files. Using an analysis of images, the evolving bilateral relations between Canada and Finland from the recognition of Finnish independence in 1919 until the early Cold War in 1948 can be understood from the Canadian perspective. The images are analyzed on a scale in terms of their positive or negative connotations. Positive images regarded Finland as a friendly, Northern, country, a borderland, cultured, Western, modern, progressive, liberal, and democratic. When these images were applied to Finns they were seen as honest, hardworking, reliable and the payers of debts. On the opposite end of the spectrum, Finland was an enemy and a trade competitor. The Finnish people could also be seen with negative images as dangerous and radical. These images existed before the establishment of diplomatic relations and carried over to interactions involving immigration, the League of Nations, trade, and scientific exchanges. They are also evident in relations between the two countries during the Winter War, in the decision to declare war against Finland during the Continuation War, during the armistice period, the peace process, and the during the early Cold War when normalized relations were established. The findings suggest that relations between Canada and Finland were most often impacted by events in Europe. The images of Finland and Finns did not directly impact relations as such, since the policies and actions taken were based on what decision-makers considered realistic assessments of the situation, as well as Canada’s national interests and capabilities. However, the images appear frequently as a means to narrow the range of acceptable options, rationalizations for specific polices, and justification for particular actions. Keywords: bilateral relations history, Canada, Canadian Finnish foreign relations, Finland, images Ratz, David, Kanadan näkökuva Suomesta 1919–1948. Kanadan hallituksen näkemys ja ulkopolitiikka Oulun yliopiston tutkijakoulu; Oulun yliopisto, Humanistinen tiedekunta, Historia Acta Univ. Oul. B 164, 2018 Oulun yliopisto, PL 8000, 90014 Oulun yliopisto Tiivistelmä Kanadan hallituksen päätöksentekijöiden näkemykset Suomesta ja suomalaisista korostavat mai- den välisiä suhteita. Hallituksen arkistot paljastavat, että päättäjillä oli selvä näkökuva Suomes- ta ja suomalaisista, ja siihen viitattiin joko avoimesti tai peitetysti. Kanadan ja Suomen suhteet Suomen itsenäisyyden tunnustamisesta vuonna 1919 aina kylmän sodan alkuun saakka vuonna 1948 ovat ymmärrettävissä Kanadan näkökulmasta käyttämällä näkökuva-analyysia. Näkökuvat analysoidaan joko positiivisella tai negatiivisella asteikolla. Positiiviset näkökuvat Suomesta kuvaavat sitä ystävällisenä, pohjoisena rajamaana, joka oli sivistynyt, länsimainen, nykyaikai- nen, edistynyt, suvaitsevainen ja demokraattinen. Suomalaiset nähtiin rehellisinä, ahkerina, luo- tettavina ja velkansa maksajina. Asteikon toisessa päässä Suomi nähtiin vihollisena ja kauppa- kilpailijana. Suomalaiset voitiin myös nähdä negatiivisesti vaarallisina ja radikaaleina. Nämä näkökuvat olivat läsnä ennen maitten välisten diplomaattisuhteiden perustamista, ja jatkuivat vuorovaikutuksissa koskien siirtolaisuutta, Kansojen liittoa, kauppaa ja tieteellistä vaihtoa. Ne ovat myös nähtävissä suhteissa talvisodan aikana, päätöksessä julistaa sota Suomea vastaan jatkosodan aikana, aserauhan aikana, rauhanteon aikana sekä paluussa normaaleihin suhteisiin kylmän sodan alussa. Euroopan tapahtumilla näytti olevan myös suuri vaikutus Suo- men ja Kanadan suhteisiin. Näkökuvat Suomesta ja suomalaisista eivät suoranaisesti vaikutta- neet maitten suhteisiin, koska käytännöt ja toiminnat perustuivat päättäjien mielestä realistiseen arvioon tilanteista sekä Kanadan kansallisista eduista ja kyvyistä. Tästä huolimatta näitä näköku- via käytettiin usein rajoittamaan hyväksyttävien vaihtoehtojen valikoimaa, järkeistämään tietty- jä käytäntöjä sekä oikeuttamaan joitakin toimintoja. Asiasanat: kahdenvälisten suhteiden historia, Kanada, Kanadan ja Suomen väliset ulkosuhteet, kuvat, Suomi Finland, Finland, Finland, Finland has it all (from Monty Python’s Contractual Obligation Album, 1980). 8 Acknowledgements This dissertation has taken a long time to complete. However, while working on it I have been active as an officer in the Lake Superior Scottish Regiment, serving Queen and country, received several promotions, completed advanced training as a staff officer, led soldiers on an Arctic exercise, taught many undergraduate courses, helped organize conferences and symposia, presented papers, published papers, and helped write three books. Many kept wondering if I would ever finish the dissertation, but, finally, I can say to my superior in the military, Colonel Geoff Abthorpe, “shot out.” There are lots of people who should be acknowledged, who helped along the way and my apology for any I inadvertently omit. I express gratitude to the following people and organizations in no set order. Thank you to my parents Karl and Evelyn, the many family (Stephenson’s, Ratz’s, Green’s, Campbell’s, Manduca’s) and friends (Abthorpe’s, Walmark’s, and others) who have been supportive and interested in my research. My efforts were delayed by the need to work two jobs and help raise three children (Roslynn, Alexander, and Anna), while my wife Wendy also had her career as a police officer. In the time it has taken for this dissertation to be completed our oldest daughter married Joseph and we have become grandparents with the addition of baby Karl. Wendy has had to put up with piles of research and books and my many trips to the archives. Kiitos to her for not starting our own midsummer tradition and throwing the material on the juhannuskokko. Thank you to Tal and Ulla Fisher and family for inspiring continued interest in things Finnish, helping on the first trip to Oulu and the loan of a Nokia. Also, kiitos to setä Urho and family for the savusauna and setä Martti for the elk stew. Many others have supported me through this process, such as my military comrades and friends Tim Berube and Donna Harding. At the Library and Archives Canada (LAC), the Finnish National Archives and the Lakehead University Library Interlibrary Loan office many staff were helpful and handled my numerous requests with grace, and I am appreciative. Then Chair of the Department of History at Lakehead University, Dr. Ronald Harpelle offered encouragement by taking a chance and hiring me as a contract lecturer in 2003 and suggested I pursue a PhD researching a Finnish topic. Thank you to Jari Leinonen, who teaches the Finnish language courses at Lakehead; however, he is not to blame for my poor Finnish language skills. He claims I earned a good mark through hard work and sisu, but I think he is biased because I agreed with him that Oulu is a fabulous city. To my supervisor Dr. Olavi Fält, now professor emeritus, paljon kiitoksia for accepting an unknown Canadian student with no Finnish background. 9 Likewise, to Professori Kari Alenius, a fellow sotilas, for all the support through the University of Oulu follow-up group process-kiitollisuus. My academic and military colleagues who have offered encouragement are too many to mention, but Captain George Romick has been a big help and, at Lakehead University, Drs. Michel Beulieu and Nathan Hatton, have been stalwart colleagues. “White shores, and beyond, a far green country under a swift