Clumsily Handled By Kremlin

Northern Advocate, 1 December 1939, Page 5

Clumsily Handled By Kremlin

(Received 12.30 p.m.) NEW YORK, November 30,

The correspondent of. the “New York Times,” in Moscow (Mr G. E. R. Gedye) says that among foreigners it is generally felt that the Kremlin’s handling of the Finnish question has been clumsy, compared with the tact and adroitness of its dealing with Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania, which agreed to its terms, and Turkey, which did not.

It was frequently remarked that the Soviet might have expected more understanding of its attitude if it had said, when it became'clear that the Finns were unwilling to accept minimum terms, that world events obliged the Soviet to , insist that the policy of collective security it had long vainly advocated had become a dead letter, and that, with the world ablaze, it must take exceptional measures to protect its froniers. The Better Way. It was argued that Russia should have offered generous treatment, if Finland had agreed, especially in matters of trade, but should have added that if Finland refused, the Soviet, in the interests of its security, would be obliged to treat the refusal as a hostile act. Though this might have been criticised as over-riding the formal independence of its small neighbour, many felt it would have created a better impression than the methods actually used. Methods Used. These were. — Alleging -frontier incidents without offering an opportunity for impartial investigation. Insisting on the correctness of its own versions and brushing aside explanations and disavowals while maintaining a campaign of vituperation in ,the Press. Attributing incredible dreams of conquest to the Finns. Organising inflammatory meetings of Russian workers. These tactics were certain to meet with an unsympathetic reception from the outside world generally.