It was remarked yesterday in this column that after the breaking off of diplomatic relationships between Finland and Russia, a move made by Moscow, the next step to war would be a very small one, though it was not then to be anticipated that M. Stalin would move so quickly as he is reported to have done. Without any formal declaration of war the Soviet Government Has launched its forces in a general attack upon the territory of Finland, and the world is again being given an exhibition of totalitarian war in which every accepted canon of decency is thrown to the wind, in an attempt by a huge nation to overwhelm a small one whose only offence has been a desire, and a determination to preserve its independence, and integrity in order to work out its own destiny. That this action should have aroused the fiercest indignation the world over, and more particularly in the United States is not surprising, for a more loathsome display of tyrannical force, excelling, if that is possible, that of the Reich against Poland, it is difficult to perceive. There is something more
in adjusting the Hüssian-Finnish dispute was to it. Washingtons offer of its good offices not a day old. It had been accepted by Finland and ignored by the Soviet Government, and a more discourteous rebuff it is impossible to conceive. What the action of Washington will be in answer to it will probably be revealed in a few days, but, if President Roosevelt decides to break off relations with Moscow, he will undoubtedly have behind him the unanimous support of the people of the United States. There is a further significance about the whole matter which should not be overlooked. It is credibly reported that the Reich, while professing some sort of sympathy with Finland, advised its Government to settle with Moscow peaceably, in other words to surrender, and, in the circumstances, the maintenance of Nazi neutrality amounts in this case merely to another of those betrayals which have characterized Herr Hitler's policy these last few months, and that a betrayal of a country which the Reich itself assisted into existence.
If the rest of the Scandinavian countries are watching developments with the gravest anxiety their perturbation is perfectly comprehensible; if in the Balkans certain states are wondering when their turn will come it need cause no surprise, for Herr Hitler has sold the pass which enables Russia to take an active part in European affairs, permitting the Russian menace to overshadow eastern Europe from the "North Cape to the Dar-dandles. And he has sold it in an attempt io avert that defeat in the west which by his embarkation upon warfare he has invited for himself. All that will be poor comfort to the Finns in this their darkest hour. Their small army, of about 600,000 men at the utmost, well-trained and well-equipped as they admittedly are, run grave risks of being overwhelmed by the enormous forces Moscow is able to throw into the field. That they may be expected to give a good account of themselves, should the Soviet press matters too far, may be taken for granted, for the Finns are a proud people and devoted to their democracy which they succeeded in carving out for themselves a little over two decades ago. The resignation of the Finnish Government, one of the immediate objectives of the Soviet Government has, it is reported occurred. It remains to be seen whether the new Cabinet will adopt a more conciliatory attitude towards Russian demands than its predecessor, though it may be taken for granted that the new demands which Moscow will make will now be more far-reaching than those upon which the two countries split. If the Finns decides to bend before the storm and endeavour to save whatever is possible out of the wreckage there will be few to blame them, but if on the other hand they realize that now their very existence as a nation is at stake and they decide to fight it out there will not be many who will not sympathize with them, in their grim decision. There are conditions which no proud, virile nation can endure, and faced with them they have little to choose between passively entering into a tyrannous helotry, or to fight it out in the remote hope that after all they may be able to save themselves.
M. Stalin stands today branded for all time to come with the same stigma of perfidy and treachery which must now characterize the notoriety of Herr Hitler. The greater treachery is yet to come, though perhaps not far distant, when one of them will betray the other. "That possibility has always been in the Nazi mind which has comforted itself with the thought that the concessions which have been made to Moscow are only of a temporary nature to be snatched back immediately the time and conditions are ripe for such an action. It is a possibility which has been fully recognized by M. Stalin who in the case of the invasion of Poland acted with a rapidity which showed no trust in the assurances of Berlin, securing his rewards for himself and not waiting for Germany to make good any promises which had been made. The way in which Herr Hitler and M. Stalin trust each other would be food for much cynical amusement were the situation not so grimly tragic. Future possibilities present no comfort to the Finns in this hour of distress. They are faced with the choice of surrender or fighting it out to the bitter end. There are some factors which would operate favourably for them should they decide to fight, the nature of the country, its marshes, lakes and forests, affording obstacles to the invader and cover for the defenders. Their case may not prove so hopeless as a mere comparison of figures would make it seem, and even if they did not emerge victorious from the struggle they might still be able to inflict such injury upon the enemy as to induce him to refrain from endeavouring to deprive them of their independence. That, however, is a remote hope, and it is better to face the fact that the ultimate development of Russian and German policies in northern Europe is a complete domination of the Scandinavian peninsula, to which the subjugation of Finland is but the first step. Whether Moscow, and Berlin will part company over the division of the spoils which Scandinavia offers remains to be seen, and it may yet be in German interest at some time or another to see the re-creation of the Finnish state as a buffer against Russian intention on Norway and Sweden.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.