EVENING POST THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 1939. FINLAND NEXT?

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 131, 30 November 1939, Page 12

EVENING POST THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 1939. FINLAND NEXT?

So long as the present war is confined to the present belligerents it is possible to, look ahead a little, as British statesmen have been doing, estimate progress, calculate chances, weigh the various factors, and come to an opinion of the outcome. With these conditions as they are today and . assuming that they develop normally, statesmen have even ventured to sketch a picture of the peace that is to follow after the war. But so much is going on outside the actual theatre of war that the most careful calculations may be upset and the present prospects completely changed. There' has been one incalculable factor of great moment which from the very ■ outset has altered many preconceptions. This is the conduct of Soviet Russia. There is no need to recapitulate the surprising actions of the Soviet leaders whicK have made Communistic Russia, if not the ally, at least the aider, abettor, and accomplice of Nazi Germany, the former "Enemy No. lj" in the conquest and partition of Poland. The facts are familiar to all. Then the Soviet astutely exacts a price for its passive assistance by enforcing the acquiescence of Germany in Russian designs on the Baltic States. Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania were successively and successfully under the virtual protection of Russia, with the concession of naval and air bases and the use of seaports on the Baltic. Germany tamely yielded all claims of suzerainty over this area and has actually withdrawn the German population " domiciled there for centuries.

/It then came the turn of Finland, the northern neighbour of the forementioned States, separated from them by the Gulf of Finland, finland proved a far harder nut to crack. /The concessions demanded of her by the Soviet have never been published in detail, but they were obviously such as to be deemed by the Finnish Government detrimental to the sovereignty and independence of Finland. It has been stated at various times that they comprise a mutual assistance pact on the lines of the treaties concluded with the other^Baltic States, (territorial adjustments, and a naval base at Hangoe, controlling the outlet from the Gulf of Finland! The territorial adjustments sought are said to include several islands in the Gulf of Finland, at present covering access by sea to Leningrad, a rectification of the frontier, at present close to Leningrad, and a strip of land near the ice-free port of Petsamo in the Arctic. Finally, it is added, Russia wants a joint Russo-Finnish fortification of the Aland Islands, which command the Northern Baltic and

as such 'vitally concern Sweden. Hitherto, under an arrangement by the League of Nations these islands havej been left unfortified. It is clear, therefore, that the Russian demands on Finland go far beyond those enforced on the other Baltic States in their effect on the outside world. Finland has a common land boundary with Sweden and Norway, and the Aland Isles are only a few miles from the coast of Sweden near thie capital, Stockholm.

It is this fact that has brought strong support to Finland from the three Scandinavian States: Sweden, Norway, and Denmark.- The Kings oof these three countries, which regard- Finland as part of Scandinavia, • met in conference at Stockholm on October 18, the President of Finland being present. A Stockholm message the next day said that no reference was made to Finland's position regarding Russia, but' in a broadcast the . King of Sweden stressed the importance of Nordic solidarity. The United States has also taken a specially keen interest in the fate of Finland. American representations were made to Russia by the U.S. Ambassador at Moscow and President Roosevelt himself addressed a personal message to M. Kalinin, Chairman of the Presidium of the Soviets and official head of Soviet Russia, expressing the hope that nothing would be done to disturb peaceful relations in the Baltic or the independence of Finland. M. Kalinin's reply on October 17 stated, inter alia, that

tb.e present negotiations are being conducted in conformity with principles recognising a state of independence in Finland. The sole aim of the negotiations is the consolidation of reciprocal relations between the Soviet and Finland and the strengthening of friendly co-operation between the two countries in the cause of guaranteeing the security of the Soviet and Finland,

That was six weeks ago. Tlie Finns, justly anxious for their independence, mobilised their forces and cleared their larger cities and towns in preparation for a sudden ( jblgjy. f^pig the Soviet forces

ominously massing across the frontier. At the same, time they firmly refused to yield to the Soviet demands or the campaign launched against them by the Russian Press. Their attitude throughout has been correct. But pretexts for aggression are easily found, and Nazi Germany has given the Soviet enough examples in: the sinister technique. Russia alleges that the Finns have fired across the frontier, killing Soviet soldiers. The Finns ...must withdraw their troops from the frontier. The Finns decline, unless the Russians do likewise. The

Russians reply by 'cancelling their non-aggression pact with 'Finland. Today comes the step which usually precedes war. M. Molotov, the Soviet Commissar for Foreign Affairs,' has announced by radio that Russia has broken off relations with Finland; and recalled her Ambassador. Thus a powerful nation once more seeks to wreak her will on a weaker neighbour. And ' what of Germany, which set tKe example of aggression, but has a special interest in Finland which she helped to gain independence as a bulwark against the Soviet?, At Berlin on January 30, 1937, Heir Hitler said: ' We look upon Bolshevism as upon an intolerable danger* to the world; we shall t»y to keep this danger away from the German people by every means at our command.

What does he say now? A message from Rotterdam today reports: <

It v is officially announced from Berlin that Germany identifies herself completely with the Russian^ demands on Finland, but does not intend to interfere^ in the dispute in any way.

Words could not say more,