Baltic Countries or Scandinavia? on the Problem of Foreign Policy orientation of Finland in the Period of 1920 s

Abstract

The years of 1920-1929 are considered as one of the most problematic period in history of the foreign policy of Finland. Since Finnish government failed to determine its priorities in the question of the foreign policy orientation, it was hard to establish the international cooperation with the great European powers. In this situation two major lines, natural from the geographical point of view, were disputed in the Foreign ministry of Finland, specifically Baltic and Scandinavian orientations. The article examines the perspectives of Finland in putting into practice these two strategies of regional cooperation in 1920s, paying special attention to the question whether these orientations were perceived as alternative or complementary in official Finnish foreign policy. Though Finland could hardly reckon on military assistance from Scandinavian countries in case of a new war, Scandinavian orientation, despite its limitations, was considered to be more advantageous for Finland than Baltic cooperation, with the numerous internal differences among the Border States and low international profile of Baltic countries. Therefore the image of Nordic country better corresponded with the national interests of Finland, than that of Baltic country. As a result it turned out impossible for Helsinki to reconcile Baltic and Scandinavian orientations of foreign policy, but Finland still continued to be indicated as a “bridge” between Baltic and Scandinavian countries in the League of Nations during this period. Indecision of Finnish diplomatic methods determined contradictoriness and inefficiency of the foreign policy of Finland in 1920s.