NEARNESS OF WAR

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 24000, 25 June 1941, Page 7

NEARNESS OF WAR

SWEDEN'S POSITION

FINNS DENY ATTACKS TURKISH PUBLIC'S VIEW (Real. 8.15 p.m.) LONDON, June 24 The Swedish Cabinet has been holding meetings, and reports say that Parliament will meet to-mor-row morning. A Vichy news agency message from Stockholm says that all leave in the Swedish army, navy and air force has been cancelled. From another source it is stated that all Swedish ships have been ordered to return home. The Swedish press generally deplores the nearness of the war to Sweden. The Stockholm AI tonbladet declares t hat it is incomprehensible and unpardonable that Britain should have refused to participate in a united front against the Sovietised East. There was no doubt of the outcome of the RussoGerinan war, in view of the strength of Germany, Finland and Rumania. " Sweden's Last Chance " The Aftonbladet's correspondent in Berlin says that political quarters there declare that the question for Sweden is whether she will travel first-class or in the luggage-van in the new Europe. "This is Sweden's last chance," says the paper. "She must act rapidly and without hesitation." The Berlin correspondent of the Swiss newspaper Diet Tat quotes political circles as saying thai Sweden will he forced to join the Axis. Finland's position is obscure. The Finnish Government spokesman insists that Finland is not at war and that 110 attacks have been launched against Russia from Finnish soil. A later message says Russia lias promised to consider the protest which the Finns made against the bombing of objectives in Finland. It is believed this situation was explained by the Finnish Minister, M. Gripenberg, in an interview with Mr. Eden yesterday. Spain's Alleged Request According to the Zurich newspaper Ncuc Zuercher, Spain has asked Germany for leave to send an auxiliary corps to fight the Russians. Hitler's new crusade against Bolshevism may help him in Spain, where it will strengthen the position of the pro-Axis Foreign Minister, Senor Suner. Spain has never appreciated Germany's pact with Russia, and the attack on Russia will be regarded as the return of Axis policy to its true aims. The Free French news agency says Turkey has asked Germany to define her aims regarding Russia, and particularly the territories in the Caucasus. The Istanbul correspondent of the Times says that, whatever the official attitude may be, the Turkish people's suspicion of Russian designs against Turkey has undoubtedly been revived, and public feeling to-day, if not proGerman, is certainly overwhelmingly anti-Russian. A Budapest message says it is officially stated that Hungary has broken off relations with Russia. POLAND'S HOPES RELATIONS WITH RUSSIA (Recti. 7.30 p.m.) LONDON, June 23 The Polish Prime Minister, General Sikorsky, in a broadcast said the German attack on Russia may well cause the cessation of friction between Russians and Poles. "To us Germany will remain the eternal enemy," he said.

General Sikorsky stated that the shattering of Nazi-Bolshevik relations was very favourable to Poland. ''Germany has torn asunder an alliance which has Jong been the source of our fcronlest misfortunes." he said. "The Polish-Russian question, which might have shadowed many friends of our in the west, may, I believe, disappear from international politics." General Sikorsky went on to say that the Polish nation was entitled to assume that Russia would cancel the 1939 pact with Germany, which countenanced the dissolution of Poland. "Will it not be natural, even on the part of the Soviet Council, solemnly to declare null and void all previous dictates concerning the partitions of Poland rather than to participate actively in her fourth partition?" he asked.

He added that to-day "fighting Poland" was on the side of Britain both in Britain and in Africa, and concluded by stressing the importance of the fact that three days ago President Roosevelt signed a bill placing Poland on the official list of nations actively engaged in war and possessing the right to share in the benefits of the Lease-and-Lend Act.