NAZIS IN FAR NORTH

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 76, 26 September 1940, Page 10

NAZIS IN FAR NORTH

The permission to pass troops through her territory to and from Arctic Norway granted by Finland to Germany, according to today's news, has drawn a very natural protest from Britain to the Finnish Government against such a glaring breach of neutrality. When Finland last winter was fighting for her independence against Soviet Russia, Britain and France were refused permission by Norway and Sweden to pass troops through to the aid of Finland by the only feasible route, via Scandinavia, on the ground that it would be a breach of neutrality. Meanwhile, Germany, which twenty years earlier had helped Finland to gain her independence from Russia, stood by, under the Hitler-Stalin pact, and did not move a hand to help Finland. Germany's seizure of Denmark and descent on Norway last April were followed by Allied intervention to save Norway. The Norwegian appeal was too late; the effort failed and Germany, becoming master of Norway, was able to exercise domination over Sweden also. But there is no access by land through Norway to the Arctic provinces of the far north, and these had to be garrisoned and| supplied by sea in waters exposed to- attack by the British Navy and Air Force. Troopships and supply transports were constantly harassed by Britain, and many were lost with many of those aboard. So Germany demanded and obtained permission to pass troops going on and returning from leave through Sweden. A similar, but wider, concession has now been secured from Finland. It would be interesting to know what Stalin, who fought a bitter campaign against the Finns, ostensibly to protect Leningrad from attack by possible enemies, thinks of the presence of German troops in Finland, even if they are only in transit. Wherever they go, whether as tourists, travellers, or troops in transit, the Germans are apt to retain a foothold with an eye to future contingencies. The Russians, who have just seen Rumania come under the Axis, may be trusted to scrutinise carefully the! prospect of any similar development on their north-western flank.