Finland's last "golden schooner" slid into Russian waters last week. Named for the bright brass and copper alloy used for its fittings, the schooner meant gold for Russia in another sense: it was the final payment of doughty Finland's $570 million reparations debt to Russia. Finland thus lived up to a reputation established as the only World War I debtor nation which punctually made its payments to the U.S.
For eight years the Finns, their territory reduced 12% by Russia's annexation of Karelia and Petsamo province, have worked in shipyards, lumber camps,...
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