Figure 1.--The children here are World War I orphans at an an orphanage in Viborg, a medieval town at the time in Finland. (It was seized by the Soviets in the Winter War.) The Americ Junior Red Cross collected food and clothing for Europeans. Some of which went to Finland. The children here are dressed for a Finnish folk dance in honor of a visit by their American benefactors. Source: Library of Congress LC-DIG-anrc-12903.

The United States was unable to get food relief to Finland during World War I, at the time part of the Tsarist Empire. This was simewhat complicated by Tsarist efforts to supress Funnish nationalism. The German dominated the Baltic approches to Finnish ports. And during the War, Finnish contacts with the Gerrnmans were fiannly possivle, especially after the departure of German troops. We do not yet have the full story. To help deal mwith the acute food shortage in Finland, the United States from 1918 to 1920 exported 170,000 metric tons of grain and foodstuffs to Finland. [Golden] This was part of the overall ARA efforyt. After the immeduate post-War crisis, the United States offered long term low-interest credits. Finland borrowed nearly $US 8 million dollars (1918-2?) to deal with severe food shortages. Remember in assessing the anout that these were dollars st the time. In modern currenvy the actually value would be far greater. The loans were to be repaid over a 62-year period, with an interest rate of 3 percent for the first 10 years, and 3.5 percent for the remaining period. Finland was a rare country which paid off their World War I debt in full. In addition to the ARA effort. Private charities were also effort. The American Juniir Red Cross collected sclothing a school supplies for the children.

Created: 10:44 AM 10/31/2021
Last updated: 10:44 AM 10/31/2021