INSURMOUNTABLE OBSTACLE

Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 63, 14 March 1940, Page 11

INSURMOUNTABLE OBSTACLE

SWEDISH AND NORWEGIAN REFUSAL TO ALLOW PASSAGE OF TROOPS

(Received March 14, 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, March 13. In a most moving broadcast at noon today, the Finnish Foreign Minister admitted that the terms of the peace treaty were very hard for Finland—in fact, harder than those originally proposed by Russia. After M. Tanner had announced the main territorial concessions, he spoke briefly of Finland's fight against overwhelming odds for the last three and a half months. They had had the help of volunteers, but volunteers were not enough. Finland had asked unceasingly for help from its neighbours, who had not considered that they could grant that request. The Western Powers, after some hesitation, announced that they were willing to send a fully equipped expeditionary force if Finland asked for it, and this promise was repeated several times. The only possible way by which that help could reach Finland was by way of Norway and Sweden. Finland repeatedly addressed requests to those two Governments to consent to the passage of troops, but Sweden and Norway refused categorically, and their neutrality made an insurmountable obstacle in the way of help from the Western Powers.

M. Tanner added that if Finland could get tto help the result of the struggle was clear. That being so, the Finnish Government began to consider the possibilities of peace and had been in contact with Russia on the matter for some weeks. The Russians had refused an armistice, and the Finnish delegation had been in the unique position of visiting the enemy capital while the war was still raging. The delegation had tried in vain ta get the Russians to modify their demands, but M. Tanner pointed out that the Soviet Union was not interfering with the internal policy of Finland and that the puppet Government had been put aside.

The Finnish Government had accepted peace only with very great hesitation. If Finland succeeded in retaining her unity she would rise again after this hard blow.