GERMANY BLAMED.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 60, Issue 47, 5 December 1939, Page 5

GERMANY BLAMED.

THE INVASION OF FINLAND. .. PRICE PAID FOR THE PACT. LONDON, December 3. In the light of the events of the last few days, the grave responsibility which lies on the Nazi Government for the invasion of Finland by the Soviet forces becomes clearer in the opinion of well-informed quarters in London. It is not doubted, in view of the available evidence, that the occupation of Finland, like that of the Baltic States, was insisted upon by M. Stalin before the conclusion of the Soviet-Nazi pact last August. It is believed, in short, that Herr Hitler was prevailed upon by Herr von Ribbentrop to agree in advance to this Soviet demand as part of the price for the Moscow pact which the German Foreign Minister calculated would result in keeping Britain and France out of the war which Herr Hitler was determined to loose upon Poland. Support of this reading of events comes from facts now disclosed for the first time in. authoritative circles, regarding the breakdown of the British-Frencli-Soviet negotiations. Britain and France, It is to bet remembered, had for some months be-. fqre the invasion of Poland been trying to conclude with the Soviet Government a pact, intended to prove a deterrent to German aggression. The course of their negotiations was kept secret. It is now admitted, however, that the main reason for their failure was the refusal of the French and British Govern r meats to agree to the Russian demands, which would have endangered the integrity of the Baltic States and Finland.

For instance, as part of their price for an alliance, the Soviet Government insisted that ■ Britain and France should persuade Finland and the Baltic countries to put at the disposal of the Soviet Fleet naval bases on thpi coast of Desel and Dagoe and the Aaland Islands.

It was pointed out that Britain and France were not prepared to traffic in the sovereignty of small States. • Herr von Ribbentrop proved less scrupulous. It is interesting to recall now the anxiety displayed by Finland and the Baltic States at the time of the British-French-Soviet negotiations lest any understanding should be reached which might compromise their sovereignty or neutrality. The Nazi Government did its best to encourage such suspicions so long as it feared the conclusion of a tripartite pact against aggression at Moscow, but did not hesitate to barter away the independence of these States in .return for Soviet acquiescence in the attack on Poland.—British Official Wireless.