HELP FOR FINLAND

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVII, Issue 21529, 16 December 1939, Page 9

HELP FOR FINLAND

Woild Conscience Has Been Outraged Britain’s Main Objective British Official Wireless RUGBY. December 14. The Prime Minister (Mr Chamberlain). in the House of Commons, • paid a tribute to the courage and i determination of the Finnish defence. IBy an act of aggression, the Soviet Government had outraged the conscience of the whole wc.ld. The German Government publicly ranged ! itself on the side of the aggressor. I whom it even attempted to assist by a violent campaign against the Scandinavian countries for moral support of the Finnish cause. At the outset, and before the Genev.i appeal, the British Government decided to permit and release ior immediate delivery in Finland by manufacturers a number of fighter aircraft urgently needed. The Government intended similarly to release other material to assist the Finnish Government. Generous help for Finland had been forthcoming from several other countries, including the United States. Sever*,. European c'untries would have supplied more material but for the difficulties made by Germany regarding transit. Allies’ Objective After reviewing the League proceedings. Mr Chamberlain said the opportunity had been seized by the Nazis and many acting unconsciously in their service to deflect . ttention from the primary objective of the Allied ar effort—the defeat of Nazi Germany. “We must never lose sight of our objective. We must never forget it was German aggression which pa.ed the way for the Soviet attack on | Poland and Finland, and Germany alone aipong nations even now is abetting by word and deed the Russian aggression. “We must give what help we can to the latest victim, but meanwhile it is only by concentrating on the task of resistance of German aggression, thus attacking the evil a* the root, that we can hope to save the nations of Eurooe from the fate which will otherwise overtake them.” War Reviewed Reviewing the progress of the war at sea. on land, and in the air. Mr Chamberlain touched upon the King’s visit to the troops in France. “British troops have now’ taken their place in a sector of the Maginot Line, side bv side with the French. Certain British units are now facing the enemy in ' j outpost line, whence patrols have maintained touch with the enemy. The British commander is under the orders of the senior French formation commander. but has himself French troops under his command, thus giving fre.'.h proof of the mutual confidence the armies of the Allies have in each other.”