NAZIS CONNIVE AT INVASION

Southland Times, Issue 23991, 5 December 1939, Page 7

NAZIS CONNIVE AT INVASION

PRICE OF TREATY WITH SOVIET

ADVANCE DEMAND BY STALIN ALLIES’ DIFFICULTIES RECALLED (British Official Wireless) (Received December 4, 6.30 p.m.) RUGBY, December 3. In the light of the events of the last few days the grave responsibility which lies on the Nazi Government for the invasion of Finland by the Soviet forces becomes clearer, in the opinion of well-informed quarters in London. It is not doubted, in view of the available evidence, that the occupation of Finland—like that of the Baltic States—was insisted upon by the Soviet dictator (M. Joseph Stalin) before the conclusion of the Soviet-Nazi Pact last August. It is believed, in short, that HenHitler was prevailed upon by Herr Joachim von Ribbentrop, the Nazi Foreign Minister, to agree in advance to this Soviet demand as part of the price for the Moscow Pact which the German Foreign Minister calculated would result' in keeping Britain and France out of the war Herr Hitler was determined to loose upon Poland. Support for this reading of events comes from the facts now disclosed for the first time in authoritative circles about the breakdown of the Anglo-French-Soviet negotiations. Britain and France, it wil be remembered, had for some months before the invasion of Poland been trying to conclude with the Soviet Government a pact intended to prove a deterrent to German aggression. The course of their negotiations was kept secret. It is now admitted, however, that the reason for their failure was . the refusal of the French and British Goverhments to agree to those Russian demands which would have endangered the integrity of the Baltic States and of Finland.

For instance, as part of its price for an alliance, the Soviet Government insisted that Britain and France should persuade Finland and the Baltic countries to put at the disposal of the Soviet fleet naval bases on the coast of Oesel and Dago and the Aaland Islands. It is pointed out that Britain and France were not prepared to traffic in the sovereignty of small States. Herr von Ribbentrop proved less scrupulous. It is interesting to recall now the anxiety displayed by Finland and the Baltic States at the time of the Anglo-French-Soviet negotiations in case any understanding should be reached which might compromise their sovereignty or neutrality. The Nazi Government did its best to encourage such suspicions so long as it feared the conclusion of a tripartite pact against aggression at Moscow, but it did not hesitate to barter away the independence of these States in return for Soviet acquiescence in the attack on Poland.

SCANDINAVIAN INDIGNATION The tide of indignation at Russia’s invasion has reached full flood throughout Scandinavia. Extreme uneasiness has been caused in Sweden by the German newspapers’ violent attacks against M. Richard Sandler, Swedish Foreign Minister, who is blamed, with Britain, for causing the situation leading to the Russian action. It is alleged that M. Sandler prevented Finland from making agreements with Russia and Germany. The Swedish Government has decided to call up further reservists. The feelings of the people are rising hourly. About 10,000 persons gathered outside" the royal palace in Stockholm, calling King Gustav to the balcony with cries of “Long Live Sweden.” The demonstrators sang the Swedish and Finnish National Anthems, cheering wildly when King Gustav appeared and saluted solemnly. The crowd then demonstrated outside the Russian Legation. The Swedish Cabinet tonight decided to call up further conscripts and reservists, in addition to the large contingents involved in yesterday’s calling up. It also cancelled discharges due to conscripts already serving. An indignant mob smashed the windows of the communist newspaper Nydag and attempted to storm the Russian Legation, but was headed off by the police. The churches observed two minutes’ silence for prayers for Finland. Major Winge, who led a brigade of Swedish volunteers in the Finnish war of independence in 1918, is organizing a new brigade for which recruits are being accepted from all the Scandinavian countries. Over 60 youths enlisted for the Finnish Army at a special office in Stockholm. Hundreds are enrolling in other cities. Norway’s apprehension is growing daily. Additional troops have been sent to the northern frontiers.

Frequent demonstrations in favour of Finland are being held throughout

Denmark. Hundreds of students overnight marched through the streets of Copenhagen, shouting “Long Live Finland!” They cheered outside the Finnish Legation and finally were dispersed by the police while demonstrating outside a communist newspaper office. SOVIET EMBASSY GUARDED Indignation against Russia increases hourly in Rome. The Soviet Embassy is carefully guarded in expectation of further demonstrations. Newspapers in their accounts from Finland all sympathize with the defenders. Il Messagero pays a tribute to the accuracy of the Finnish artillery, stating that it knocked out 30 tanks in one battle near Petsamo. It adds that large units of parachutists landed behind the Karelian defences, but were wiped out after a bitter struggle. 11 Popolo di Roma declares that the Finns found many of the Russians whom they > have taken prisoner suffering frt>m' scurvy and lack of warm clothing. V>The Montevideo correspondent of the Associated Press of America foreshadows the extension of anti-Russian reaction. He says that the Uruguayan Foreign Minister, Senor Guani, is communicating with the other American republics with a view to a joint protest. The Buenos Aires representative of the United States, surveying Press reactions, says that there is unanimous condemnation of Russia throughout the South American countries. The Budapest correspondent of The New York Times sees the invasion increasing the weakness of the Hungarian National Socialists, many believing that the green-shirted version of Hitlerism is on its last legs, the main causes being the Russian-German Pact, the invasion of Poland, bringing communism to the Hungarian frontier, Hitler’s plans to repatriate the Balkan Germans and Russia’s attack on Finland.