SWEDEN STANDS FIRM

Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 16, 19 January 1940, Page 6

SWEDEN STANDS FIRM

It has been noted more than once that the gallant, and so far successful, fight to preserve her independence Finland'has been putting up against her immensely more powerful neighbour, Russia, has given all the other small nations of Europe new courage to resist aggression. The example of Austria, Czechoslovakia, and, finally, Poland had created something like despair among the neighbours of Germany and Russia, who feared that a similar fate might befall them if they showed a disposition to decline the importunate demands made upon them by predatory Powers in quest of fresh footholds from which to dominate Europe. But the Finns stood their ground,' and in the face of savage

attacks by land, sea, and air still hold their own. The first brunt of the onslaught was borne without any foreign help, but now the Finns are getting much more than.verbal sympathy from the outside world; volunteers are flocking in to join the defenders, and money, munitions, and material must now be arriving in increasing quantities. But it is chiefly the moral effect on all little nations that counts. Nowhere is this better seen than in Sweden, a neighbour country associated with Finland throughout long centuries past in the effort to stem the advance of the Muscovite from the East. From Sweden volunteers and arms have reached Finland and will be used to aid the defenders in the difficult task of holding back , the reinforced Russians. Gan Sweden do more -at the moment? This question was raised in the Swedish Parliament, the Rigstag, this week by the ex-Foreign Minister, Mr. Sandier, and the reply of the Prime Minister, Mr. Hansson, revealed a new spirit of 'independence. Mr. Sandier vehemently denounced the neutrality policy, stated the news yesterday'^ and deplored the lack of Scandinavian co-operation. Sweden, he said, was not ready to take the necessary steps when the time came, but it was not too late yet; The Stockholm message says nothing about any specific measures to implement the steps," Mr. Sandier no longer having the responsibility for action^ but the Prime Minister covered the general position in a statement, in which he said: We need no order from abroad concerning our relations with Finland, but will judge for ourselves how to do" the best service to the *■ cause of Finland and the other northern countries. Our foreign policy is unchanged. We shall defend our^ independence and neutrality. The Western Powers have not "brought any pressure to bear on us, and Germany has not threatened us. We will meet any attempt to violate our neutrality with all the powers at our disposal. .. . There is no question of a military coalition, nor of obligation on Sweden to help,, for Finland has our sympathy, but caution must be exercised if we are to avoid becoming a party to the conflict. j The position of Sweden, as of other small nations, like the Belgians and the Dutch, with powerful neighbours is difficult, and the attitude of the Swedish Prime Minister may be taken as correct under the circumstances. In the Great War Sweden, with the rest of Scandinavia, maintained her neutrality. Apart from the sinking of her ships by submarine and mine, Sweden at the moment has no particular quarrel with Germany. reference1 to "no orders from abroad" is rather to Russia, which, at least through the controlled Press, has protested against Sweden's attitude to Finland. With Russia Sweden was frequently at war in past centuries with Finland the chief battlefield, and there is a cultural connection between H the Swedes and the Finns. Hence feeling naturally runs high in Sweden against the wanton attack by Russia on Finland, particularly from the

air. The extraordinary announcement of the Russian High Command, published today, that the Red Air Force "never has bombed and never will bomb Helsinki" will carry even less credence in Sweden than anywhere else in the world. Against such bombing, which might be their lot if they took definite action, the Swedes are perfectly aware that a strong air force is the only sure protection. It may be taken therefore that Sweden will pursue her present policy until assured that, adequate measures for self-defence have been concerted. In this the co-operation of the smaller nations in a definite stand against " aggression would furnish effective encouragement.