FINLAND’S PLIGHT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 9 January 1940, Page 4

FINLAND’S PLIGHT

THE resistance of the Finns to Russian aggression has created admiration throughout the Englishspeaking world, and now Britain is sending arms and ammunition to Finland via Norway and Sweden. Moreover, Swedish volunteers have begun to move towards the Finnish border with a view to assisting in the expulsion of the Russians from Finland. For if the latter country is over-run by Russians, it will not be very long before they will invade the Scandinavian Peninsula. The “difficulties” between Russia and Finland began last November ostensibly because the Finnish Government refused to make concessions which would have allowed the Soviet Government absolute control over the entrance to the Gulf of Finland. As a matter of fact the use of that gulf is essential to the interests of both nations, and though the Finns do not dispute the Russians the right to use its waters, the Russians’ policy is to dominate the gulf to the exclusion of the Finns. From Russian sources it has been learned that the Soviet Government proposed that Finland should lease territory adjoining the port; of Hango allowing the Russian Government to mount there heavy guns which with the guns already mounted on the island of Dago (already in Russian hands) would give the j Soviet command of the entire width of the Gulf, which from north to south measures fortyfive miles. The unhampered use of this waterway is of primary importance to the two countries, because it gives access and egres3 to both Helsinki, on Finland’s coast, and to Leningrad on the eastern extremity of the gulf. It is evident that in the best interests of the two countries they should share the use of the gulf amicably. In the realm of politics it is evident that the Government and people of Finland can be of no danger to Russia, and furthermore their country cannot very well be used as a basis of operations by any Great Power or Powers whose Governments may j be inimical to the Soviet. The i Russians’ invasion of Finland is unprovoked. Neither has the Moscow Government anything to fear from the Finns; neither can Stalin fear that their country can be coveted by the Great Powers, or be used by them for the purpose of aggression. The Soviet’s policy is to overrun and annex Finland while the Western Powers are occupied by their war against Germany, whose official sympathy is entirely with the Russians, whose rapacious policy keeps Hitler and the Nazis in countenance after their predatory action against the Czechs and Poles. Ever since Finland won her independence in 1917 she had adhered ;

[closely to the Scandinavian nations, who have warmly reciprocated her friendship, and naturally they are apprehensive because of Russia’s action against her. Both Norway and Sweden are closely involved in Finland’s future, for obviously if the Russians seize that country their next Step will be to overrun Sweden and Norway and obtain ports which would give them access to the Atlantic Ocean. The reason why Britain is assisting Finland with arms and ammunition is obvious, and it is evident that she would give the Swedes and Norwegians her moral support in any measures they might take to give the Finns practical assistance.