WANTON AGGRESSION

Evening Star, Issue 23498, 12 February 1940, Page 7

WANTON AGGRESSION

DENOUNCED BY ROOSEVELT DESIRE TO HELP FINLAND WASHINGTON, February 10. President Roosevelt, addressing the American Youth Congress, said that Russia had a dictatorship as absolute as any other in the world. The United States sympathy was 98 per cent, with Finland. He said that the United States desired to aid Finland. The President ridiculed suggestions that Russia might declare war on the United States in consequence of this aid, and he decribed bis own early interest in the Russian experiments in the hopes of a lead to the betterment of the nation. President Roosevelt added: “That hope to-day is either shattered or put into storage against a better day. Rusaia is allied with another dictatorship and has invaded a neighbonr so infinitesimally small, that it could not injure the Soviet.” The President’s remarks were particularly pointed, since the Congress organisation has been engaged in a controversy concerning its refusal to denounce the Russian invasion of Finland. Charges have been freely made that the council of the Congress has been influenced by Communists. The Washington correspondent of the * New York Times ’ says that the disposal of surplus guns and other supplies involved in the acceptance of a 9,000,000-dollar order from Sweden is believed to have been authorised as part of the policy of closer co-operation with other neutral countries, to which end America is working. It is revealed that ■be is preparing a policy of strengthening the land and naval defences of endangered neutrals implemented by attempts to assure more trading and greater solidarity among the neutrals. President Roosevelt has authorised the navy to sell absolete destroyers, of which there are 109, but 72 are being recommissioned., The remainder may be sold, and the Scandinavian countries are expected to be the chief buyers of these and other surplus supplies, which are available to all except Finland and' China.

FINNISH AID BILL CERTAIN OF PASSAGE NEW YORK, February 10. Debating the Finnish Aid Bill, Senator Danaher, a Republican representative, said that “ the United States neutrality patrol is the eyes of Great Britain in American waters,” states the Washington correspondent,of the 1 New York Times.’ He made the charge that the Columbus passed along one group of United States destroyers until it was virtually delivered into the hands of the British. Voting on the Bill-will take place on February 13. It is certain of passage. REFUGEES AND MEDICAL SERVICES DRAMATIC APPEAL FOR HELP THE HAGUE, February 11. (Received February 12, at 8 a.m.) M. Hambro made a dramatic appeal for help for Finland. The conference agreed to study the points M. Hambro raised, which included the questions of refugees and medical ■ services. FINLAND'S GREAT BURDEN ASSISTANCE VITALLY NECESSARY (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY. February 10. Referring to the return of the British Labour delegation from Finland, the British Press remarks there is always a tendency to doubt the accuracy of news coming from a country at war, and says it is all to the good to receive first-hand accounts from men well suited to find out the true facts for themselves. The 1 Manchester Guardian ’ says that the delegation’s reports give a useful estimate of the value of Germany’s partner, for whose aid she has sacrificed the goodwill of all her former friends. “ Nothing in the present news suggests that the Finnish resistance is weakening,” the ‘ Manchester Guardian ’ says. “ For all her efforts and the casualties to which her inefficiency condemns her dogged forces. Russia lias done nothing that can be seen to break the stalemate. Yet at any time fortunes may suddenly change, and with the spring Finland’s burden will be vastly increased. She, cannot destroy Russia; but she herself, less than

4,000,000 strong, can be exhausted and utterly overthrown. “ It is now realised in this country that the fate which is certain unless outside aid is sufficient will harm us as surely as it will ruin Finland. The longer the war lasts, the weaker llussia becomes, and therefore, the more important it is for us to see that the partner of our own enemy is not ultimately victorious.”-