Horror, Anger, Tears Throughout Europe

Northern Advocate, 2 December 1939, Page 7

Horror, Anger, Tears Throughout Europe

LONDON, November 30

The wave of horor and revulsion which was the first reaction throughout Europe to the Soviet barbarity, has quickly given place to fears in the north and south of Europe of new aggressions.

The Press of England and France conjecture as to what may be Russia’s further purposes in Scandinavia, and the possibility of Hitler using the development diplomatically and strategically in the Western war. Germany has remained officially silent, but the invasion is obviously a further strain to loyalty to the Government, particularly on the part of the Army, many of whose officers fought for Finnish independence, and also on the part of the Navy, which sees the Baltic becoming a Russian lake.

Spontaneous Anger in Italy

A message from Rome says it is difficult to recall any international incident which has whipped up such a wave of spontaneous anger. If it were geographically possible, thousands of Italians would rush to the aid of Finland. Political quarters see the invasion as a further step, in a plan begun when Russia walked into Poland, of which the next steps may be in the Balkans.

The Swedish Government has maintained silence ,except to indicate its full preparedness, but the public has merely expressed its sympathy with the attacked, and its hatred oi the attacker. Swedish Women in Tears, Crowds gathered at the newspaper offices to read the bulletins.

There were frequent individual outbursts of indignation, and women burst into tears when the bombing of Helsingfors was announced. Only Government prohibition will prevent many Swedes, Danes and Norwegians from going to Finland to volunteer. There is indignation throughout Holland. Crowds smashed the windows of the Communist newspaper “Voltsdagblad” in Amsterdam ,and also those of a Russian bookshop. Abhorrence of Highwaymen.

The Norwegian newspaper “Aftenposten” says: “We are forced to be mere onlookers, but we can at - least express sympathy with Finland, and abhorrence of the highwaymen.” The Madrid newspaper “A.D.C.” says; “The invasion demonstrates the sacred character of the Spanish crusade against the enemy of civilisation and Christianity.”