ALLIED AID FOR FINNS

Grey River Argus, 14 March 1940, Page 7

ALLIED AID FOR FINNS

FRANCE’S LARGE CONTRIBUTION Troops Ready To Go M. DALADIER’S SPEECH. PARIS, March 12. M. Daladier, in the Chamber of Deputies, said that, from February 26, a body of French troops has been ready to help Finland. Ships were waiting to take them. Britain had taken similar measures. The strength of this expeditionary force was 50,000 men. France, responding to an urgent Finnish request a few days ago, sent a number of ultra-modern bombers which had now arrived on the Finnish front. He informed the x innish Minister that France was determined to give Finland the fullest aid. M. Daladier said that Britain and France had not yet received a direct appeal from Finland, and he was waiting for this appeal. He explained that this appeal was necessary, because Sweden and Norway opposed the passage of Allied troops. This attitude would prevent the Allies assisting Finland, unless they received a direct appeal from Finland. He said that he told the Finnish Minister on March 7 that the Allies were ready to send immediate help, but if Finland did not appeal for it, the Allies could not assume any responsibility for the status of Finland after the war. The Finnish Minister replied that a definite answer would be sent on March 12, after the meeting of the Finnish’ Parliament. The Finnish Parliament was meeting at this moment, to discuss the peace proposals which Russia desired to impose, therefore it would be wiser to adjourn the debate on M. Blum’s motion regarding the Government’s policy in relation to Finland. He added that he understood and shared the nation’s emotions, resulting from recent events.

The Deputies agreed to postpone the debate until March 19. M. Daladier emphasised that France headed the list of nations sending war material to Finland. Since early in December she had sent 145 ’planes, 496 guns, 5,000 ma-chine-guns, 400,000 rifles, 200,000 hand-grenades, and 20,000,000 rounds of ammunition. He added that Britain was bearing the greater part of the assistance given in men and ships, and had multiplied her efforts, so troops can be sent to Finland. Britain was also responsible for the naval protection of these convoys. M. Daladier added that the Allies must have the complete support of the majority of the people of Sweden and Norway, in order to overcome the opposition to the passage of Allied troops. It was also necessary to have the support of railwaymen accustomed to operating transport eastward. He was, therefore, appealing for the co-operation- of Swedish and Norwegian workers. SWEDEN AND NORWAY. REFUSE ALLIES TRANSIT OF TROOPS. STOCKHOLM, March 12. Britain asked Sweden and Norway on March 2, what their attitudes would be if troops from the Allies crossed through their countries to Finland. Sweden and Norway replied that such an act would be contrary to neutrality, and might occasion the use of armed force, according to the “Svenska Dagbladet.”