U.S. Makes Offer To Both Sides

Northern Advocate, 1 December 1939, Page 5

U.S. Makes Offer To Both Sides

(Received 1.30 p.m.) WASHINGTON, November 30. The American diplomats in Russia and Finland were instructed to forward the United States proposals to extend its good offices to the respective Governments. It was learned that the United States Ambassador to Moscow' (Mr Laurence A. Steinhardt) abruptly abandoned his visit to Stockholm, and departed hurriedly for Moscow. The' U.S. chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee of the Senate (Mr Key Pittman)'and Senator W. E. Borah condemned Russia’s action and praised Mr Hull’s effort. Mr Hull said the U.S. was willing to extend its good offices in settling the dispute, but said this should not be interpreted as an offer to mediate.

Mr Pittman said Russia had created fictitious incidents which were a “prelude to an excuse for conquest.”

Both Mr Pittman and Mr Borah had little expectations that Mr Hull’s move would be successful. The New York “Her.ald-Tribune” states, in a leading article: Not a Peer For Mendacity. “In bold, crude, barefaced mendacity, the Soviet Government has not a peer in history. “It may be of little moment to the Kremlin to know that if Finland is invaded she will have the moral support of every man and woman in the linked States whose opinion is worth consulting.

“The Soviet will stand self-con-victed in this nation’s sight of a coldly calculated crime against human decency.”

Britain’s Hopes,

The British Official Wireless said the news that the American Government w,as ready to offer its good offices in the dispute was welcomed by the British Government, which had always felt that the dispute was not of such a nature as to justify either party in resorting to warlike measures. It naturally hoped that the offer would be accepted.

The offer of good offices by the United States in the Finnish dispute reached the American Embassy in Moscow shortly before hostilities opened. It was then stated that the offer would be presented to the Soviet Embassy later in the morning. The Moscow authorities refuse to confirm the report of the invasion.