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We cannot tell what the fate of Finland may be, but no more mournful spectacle could be presented to what is left of civilised mankind than that this splendid Northern race should be at last worn down and reduced to a servitude worse than death by the dull brutish force of overwhelming numbers.

If the light of freedom which still burns so brightly in the frozen North should be finally quenched, it might well herald a return to the Dark Ages, when every vestige of human progress during two thousand years would be engulfed.

Winston Churchill, Jan 20 1940.





http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fgwr3wrenkQ

Happy 93rd Birthday, Independent Finland! Here's to many more!

Always up for a party!

Dave

First round of drinks on me!

Absolutely!

"...and if at any time Britain and France, wearying of the struggle, were to make a shameful peace, nothing would remain for the smaller States of Europe, but to be divided between the opposite, through similar, barbarisms of Nazidom and Bolshevism."

After the radio speech, Lord Halifax was less impressed: "Would you think it unreasonable of me to ask in future, if you are going to speak with a particular reference to Foreign policy, you might let me see in advance what you had it in mind to say?"

Churchill replied, charmingly: "I certainly thought I was expressing yr view, and that of Neville's?"