A BRITISH VERSION.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 60, Issue 133, 16 March 1940, Page 5

A BRITISH VERSION.

APPEAL MADE FOR MEN.

TRANSIT THE STUMBLING-BLOCK

(Received This Day, 11 a.m.) LONDON, March 15

• Many confusing accounts are circulating regarding the aid given by the AlKes to Finland. The following information bn the development of assistance by Britain and France is derived from reliable sources. .

Britain and France, in common, with other States who are members of the League of Nations, undertook, following the Finnish appeal at Geneva, to afford the victim of Soviet aggression whatever material and humanitarian assistance it was in their power to give. From then until the end of 1939, it was understood that Field - Marshal Mannerheim desired help in material and not men. French and British material, in considerable quantities and on an increasing scale as each, week went by, began to leave for Finland, but the difficulties of transport were such that much of it has not even now reached its destination. It included, however, fighting and . bombing aeroplanes. Later, as the Russian attack developed, tho Finnish commander let it be known that he "would need at least 40,000 men. The organisation of assistance in men on . this scale immediately raised those problems of transit ahd their political concomitants, -which, eventually caused the Finnish Government to decide that it must reach its decision on,the Soviet terms, without counting on furtjier aid. It had been impossible to dispatch troops and equipment in the form of “volunteers,” and to tho passage of organised bodies of soldiers Sweden and Norway were opposed, The interpretation which they placed on the requirements of neutrality, as is well known, was decisively influenced by warning advice given from Berlin. ~ •

The only procedure Avhich might have afforded a way round these difficulties Avas a reneAved appeal by Finland under tho League CoA r enant, and substantial assurances to SAveden and Norway of support, if. they decided to act upon a wider view of their obligations of Article 16 of the Covenant.

The Allies gave Finland an opportunity to put that procedure’to the test, but the Finnish Government reluctantly reached the conclusion that even it gave insufficient scope of effectively overcoming the difficulties. The sequel is noAV part of history.—British Official Wireless.

READY TO/ HELP.

POLISH FORCE ASSEMBLED.

(Received This Day,-, 11 a.m.) PARIS, March 15

The Polish Government announces that a Polish expeditionary force had assembled “someAyhere in France” for co-operation. Avith the Anglo-French troops in aiding Finland.

POLITICAL CRISIS.

RUMOURS IN PARIS. 4 LONDON, March 15. In Paris the French Senate discussed the feovict-Finnish peace for three hours behind locked doors, tho secret session having been proposed by hi. Daladier. Ip a section of the French press there is some talk of a political crisis in France folloAving the end of the Fin* nisli Avar. There is speculation on Avhothor the peace will enhance or diminish M. Daladior’s prestige.

AN AMERICAN STORY.

ALLEGED ALLIED DISSENSION. LONDON, 'March 14. In connection Avith reports, that the British and French leaders differed over tho question of Allied aid to Finland, and that a plan was discussed and abandoned on February 6, the Washington correspondent of the “NeAV York Times” states that the French, according to reports, had two

divisions, one of Polish and one of French troops, ready to depart to Finland at a moment’s notice.

It was proposed at tho Paris conference which ?Mr Chamberlain attended, that Britain should supply a Canadian division. The- French urged That these troops and full equipment should be sent to Finland through Sweden if possible, and otherwise that the British should convoy the expedm tion to Northern Finland or Russia so as to create a diversion. Mr Chamberlain asked for several days to ponder the matter. After consultations in London he informed tho French that he was opposed to such direct intervention. Thereupon it was agreed to encourage British and French volunteers and also to send additional aeroplanes and military supplies to Finland as rapidly as possible. Meanwhile the French continued to hold a division in readiness.

With regard to tho statement of the Norwegian Foreign Minister (M. Ivoht) that, when Britain and Franco asked Norway, on March 12, to allow the passage of troops to Finland, the matter had ceased to be topical because peace talks were already in progress, it is stated in London that tho Allies’ inquiry concerning transit facilities was made before the Finnish delegation left Moscow, and before there were any indications that Russia's peace terms would be accepted by Finland. That the matter had ceased to be topical, therefore, was a contention which could not for a moment be admitted.