VOICE IN NORTH.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 201, 25 August 1937, Page 7

VOICE IN NORTH.

FACTOR IN EUROPE? Scandinavia's Chance to Take Leadership. UNION OF FOUR NATIONS. LONDON, August 20. "When stormclouds darken overhead, the sheep flock together," writes Joachim Joesten, the' Copenhagen cox-respondent of "Le Temps," in an article in the "New Commonwealth," on the much-discussed Nordic Alliance, comprising Sweden, Norway, Finland and Denmark. "With a population totalling 16,200,000, the immense potential strength of the Nordic entente would be an important factor in the European game," adds the writer. "It is of necessity bound to come." The scheme envisages a sort of miniature League of Nations, based on the regional security idea, similar to that advanced by Mr. Bruce at Geneva. "Sweden will provide money, iron ore and guns; Norway, the metals and nitrates; Finland, the aeroplanes, and Denmark, the world's best machineguns," says Joesten. "Its best chance will lie in the psychological effect produced by the existence of a strong Nordic air fleet. This could be obtained without excessive strain by developing and then pooling the air forces. Strong Nucleus. "The nucleus of the entente would naturally be Sweden and Norway, which are already so closely associated that a formal alliance would be unnecessary. Finland would be willing and well prepared to act as a sentinel in the East. Denmark's military Nihilism offers the only difficulty. The beginnings of cooperation were seen in the recent moves by the Oslo conference. The foreign trade of the four countries shows a remarkable parallel, with a growing trend towards a concerted trade policy. "If Norway, Sweden and Denmark could agree to inaugurate a reign of law and order by pooling their defensive forces, and establishing a tribunal for the settlement of disputes, there seems to be little doubt that the other small States would hasten to join. France is almost certainly sympathetic. Uneasy Poland might see in it the possibility of salvation. Scandinavia has a great chance to take over the moral leadership of Europe."