DIPLOMATIC SETBACKS

Grey River Argus, 16 March 1940, Page 7

DIPLOMATIC SETBACKS

FOR THE ALLIES German Expectations [Aus. Ai N.Z. Cable Assn.] LONDON, March 14. Encouraged by their own estimates of the Allies’ diplomatic set-back resulting from Finland’s defeat, Nazi spokesmen, according to the Associated Press Berlin correspondent, ar? hinting that another British and French disappointment is due, in the reported impending Russian-Rouman-ian accord, to which secret negotiations in Berlin are leadine. Both the Nazi officials and the Roumanian Legation officials in Berlin suggest that the whole complexion of the international situation mav change before next week. Meanwhile, Italian participation has been intensified in economic diplomocay. German sources report that the negotiations for a Russian-Italian trade agreement are nearing conclusion, while, according to the Rome radio, a treaty dealing with Roumanian oil. exports to Italy ,vin signed shortly, whereupon a second Italian delegation will go to Bucharest, to negotiate a trade agreement replacing the present pact. NEW YORK PRESS COMMENT. RUGBY, March 14. The New York “Daily News” writes of the Finnish peace: “Is it a blow to the Allies? W e think not. If Fin-, ’land had called on France and Brit-] ain, the Allied fighting front would have become greatly extended, and the strategic advantage would have lain with Germany.” The “New York Times” comments: “It cannot be comfortable for Germany to see Russia extending her naval and military control of the Eastern Baltic.” Similar observations are made by the Dutch newspapers. FRENCH SECRET SESSION. PARIS, March 14. With criticism of the Allies’ conduct of the war appearing for the first time since the outbreak, the French Senate unanimously agreed •a a secret session, which was adjourned after three hours. It will continue tomorrow, when M. Daladier will make a statement. LONDON COMMENT. RUGBY, March 14. The approval with which the onerous peace imposed on Finland by the Soviet has been greeted in Nazi circle* occasions no surprise in London. The close similarity of the technique to that adopted by the Nazi regime m its aggressions upon other democ racies is, in fact, a feature of the peace which causes chief anxiety among Finland’s friends and admirers. | But the jubilation with which Berlin is heralding the settlement as a defeat for the Allies is not so easy to understand. The offer of Allied assistance was given in an effort to avert the cruel miscarriage of an historic and heroic resistance. The offer was, in view of many authorities on strategy, an audacious measure, and its implementation was no more likely to have been an asset to the Allies than a liability in the prosecution of the war against Germany. This school finds its thought echoed in neutral comment. U.S.A. PEACE FEELER. FRENCH PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE. PARIS. March 14. Mr. Welles conferred with M. Daladier and delivered a personal message from Mr. Roosevelt. U.S.A. EXPORTS TO RUSSIA. WASHINGTON, March 14. Mr. Cordell Hull informed the Press Conference that the Soviet moral embargo is not expiring automatically with the 1 Russian-Finnish war. SOVIET COUNCIL. , LONDON, March 14. The Moscow Radio announces that, the Supreme Soviet Council will hold an extraordinary session on March 19. This will be the sixth meeting in four years. . . ■ Baltic Triple Alliance LACK OF UNANIMITY., SWEDEN’S AWKWARD POSITION. HELSINKI, March 14. President Kallio, of Finland, declared that a defensive alliance with Norway and Sweden is inescapably necessary. OSLO. March 14. Dr. Koht, Norwegian Foreign Minister, ..stated that the Government had replied affirmativel'v to Finland’s question whether it would consider the possibility of a defensive, alliance between Norway, Finland and Sweden. STOCKHOLM, March 14. The Foreign Office stated that Sweden had agreed to join the triple alliance. It is reported that a military diplomatic conference of the three Powers is being summoned, as soon as Finland has settled her now frontiers and signed the final peace documents. LONDON, March 14- . Scandinavia is by no means unanimous regarding the proposed defensive alliance. Sweden and Norway ? realise that the peace brings them within the Russian sphere of inter-, est. The railways to be constructed, 1 threaten Sweden and Norway, and, Finland is no longer considered to be J fully independent. The proposed, guarantee of Finland’s new frontiers,, is therefore regarded as dangerous.! There is the argument also that thej alliance would infringe the peace I agreement declaration, that Finland. will not join a group hostile to Rus-; sia, although international express the opinion that a purely de-; fensive. alliance is permissible. I Sweden intends to continue her financial aid to Finland. She has al--ready given £30,000,000. In addition to £12,000,000 worth of arms, she has now granted a credit of £18,000,000. ; RIGA, March 14. I The Foreign Ministers of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia, have begun a .three-day conference on economic cooperation.