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sympathy for Finland, there was serious opposition
both from firms and individuals when the question
of giving economic help arose. This was, of course,
very discouraging to me, but it was interesting to
note the American arguments. After the First World
War, many banks, industrial companies and
individuals had been accused of involving the United States
in war by making contributions or by granting
credits to belligerent nations. Long after the end of
the war the authorities had continued investigations
into the matter, and as a result, businessmen did not
dare to take similar risks again. The fact that
Finland had promptly paid its war debt to America had
made Finland, in American opinion, a kind of symbol
of honesty and reliability. However, typical of the
comments I heard was this: ”It is quite true that I
have great admiration for Finland and I would like
very much to do something to help you. But, for a
fact, I dare not write a check for even one cent’s
value. It would jeopardize the future of my
enterprise”.
Wherever I went I received similar responses. I
soon realized that I had accepted a job more difficult
than I had expected. However, in the meantime, I
had succeeded in acquiring a number of excellent
pursuit planes of the Brewster type, which had been
tested by experts and which could immediately be
transported to Finland. I had even arranged
shipment, and all I needed were the necessary funds. I
contacted a well-known man, also prominent in
Sweden, and agreed with him that together we should
borrow a very large sum from a bank, enough to pay
for the available planes. This money would become
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