Soviet Threat To Finland

Northern Advocate, 28 November 1939, Page 4

Soviet Threat To Finland

NEWS' which is coming from Finland is strongly reminiscent of that which came from Poland just prior to the attack which Germany made upon the Polish nation. We are told that a frontier incident has aroused Russian indignation and moved that country to make a peremptory demand upon Finland to remove her troops twelve and a half miles from the RussoFinnish border.

That is a replica of the order which Germany addressed to Pbland following upon frontier incidents in which Poles allegedly fired upon German soldiers and killed more than one. Poland replied that the deaths were not deliberately caused by Poles, but were purely the result of accident. Such explanation did not satisfy a Power which was looking for a casus belli, and it'was not long, despite the warning issued by Britain and France, before an overwhelming onslaught was made upon Poland. Is history about to repeat itself in respect of Finland? The Soviet alleges that Finnish artillerymen fired at Russian troops stationed near the frontiers, and killed four of them. Finland has denied knowledge of the incident, and declared that if Russians have been killed it must have been due to trouble among the Russian troops themselves.

Finland’s refusal to move her troops from the frontier has precipitated a crisis in which the Baltic States, but particularly Sweden, are vitally concerned. Developments will be awaited with anxiety.