SWEDEN'S HAZARD.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 81, 5 April 1940, Page 8

SWEDEN'S HAZARD.

A GERMAN THRUST. ALLIED REPLY CERTAIN. THE SPRING BLITZKRIEG T (By COL. FREDERICK PALMER) LONDON, March 10. Interest in diplomatic circles here about what Premier Mussolini, Chancellor Hitler and Premier Daladier said to Welles is shared with what is now transpiring in the Rome, Berlin and Stockholm conferences. Representatives of the smaller nations are eager to get the attention of President Roosevelt's official "Listener," and prominently identified among these representatives are those of Sweden. Dominating all the moves is the military situation in its growing and over- 1 mastering importance with every sunny day. The forecast is for more mild weather to-morrow. Other harbingers of spring are the long flights made by British 'planes over Germany and the increased activity of the patrols on the Western front, taking prisoners for information in view of the fact that any time between March 13 and May 1 the Germane may inaugurate their air blitzkrieg, an army offensive or strike with immense force with the submarines they say they are building, or with all three simultaneously. And There is Sweden. Doubtless a head-on German offensive on the Western front would be the most gratifying to the Allies. Where else can Chancellor Hitler strike a blow .upon land with any chance of success T Evidently the German High Command is aware that a thrust through Holland would be too costly and dangerous an enterprise against the combined Dutch and Belgian Armies, backed by the Anglo-French armies. My observation in Italy was convincing that Germany cannot obtain the consent of its Axis partner for a German thrust into the Balkans. There the goal ie the Ukraine and the Russian oil wells, which Hitler once championed, but that would be a swift reversal of the attitude against Moscow. And there is Sweden. The Swedes fear that with the approach of spring a Russo-German military alliance would result in Russia's sweeping across the North of Finland to Tromeo, Norway, while the Germane conquered Sweden. Allied Resistance Inevitable. Should Germany attack Sweden the Allies must resist a German occupation as a matter of self-protection, and thus become the protector of Sweden as they were of Belgium during the World War. Naturally the Swedes want the integrity of Finland preserved, as the eastern barrier against Russia, and a guarantee against German aggression. The British hold that time has been in their favour, giving them a chance to strengthen their air power and perfecting the air defence of England itself. They take advance preparation as a matter of course. The 230,000 more men, called to the colours, when readv, armed and equipped, will help to make a really great army. They are confident that they are prepared for any eventuality on land and sea and in the air. Judging by the temper of the people, no peace with Germany ie acceptable under the Hitler regime.—N.A.N.A.