Nov. 29, If she neutral countries of Europe ever wanted proof that the Allies in their ws inst Germany are in reality fighting their battle, it can be found in the fates of Lithuania, Latvia and Esthonia, ax well as in the threat to Finland, just as much as it is to be discovered in Austria, Czechoslovakia and Poland. many has ruthlessly subjugated three tions, Russia has secured modifications of the territorial integrity of three Baltic States und quit obviously meditates the same thing with regard to the Finns, and all under menace of armed might. An Allied victory alone can bring about a state of affairs in which right shall be might and the rule of law prevail.
An Allied defeat ins the establishment of a German hegejony over Europe and the loss of freedom ich the neutral democracies ssu richly prize. The case of Finland ix but another example: of the use of power diplomacy, and the pressure which is being brought to bear upon that gallant country is rapidly reaching. a climax in which the Finnish Government will have to decide whether to fight or to surrender. Tt is an unfortunate fact that the cables of the last six weeks, or so have not ted with any degree of certainty exact-what the Russian demands upon Finland re. The best accounts of the opening of negotiations appear to have been provided bythe Moscow correspondents of Danish newspapers and if their versions are correct then the Soviet would appear to have put forward the following requirements The cession of the islands of Tytaesaari. Lavanssori, Selskaar! and possibly Srreaari hich command. the entrance to Kronstadt Bay. in the Gulf of Finland. For these. the Tatler would. receive. certain. territory astern "Karelia Finland. tut agree not to fortify the Aaland "islands and Russia must. have the Fight to inspect the islands from time to time foresee that no Work of fortineation Is going Finland to conclude the Soviet, itary pact with 11 is stated that there is a fourth demand. the nature of which is not known, and it is believed that this particular one is the real cause of the Soviet and Finland being at farms length. The probability which is most freely canvassed is that the Soviet requires the cession of the Petsamo district thereby acquiring 1 common frontier with Norway, another country upon which Moscow has designs.
After some weeks of negotiation it has transpired that while the Finns were pre-Dared {0 go a considerable distance towards meeting Russian demands, a point has been Teached where no further concessions can be made, without infringing upon Finnis national" honour, and integrity, and, that being s0, the danger of an outbreak of war tween' the two countries has become imminent.. The usual fection of border incidents has been evolved for the Purpose of justifying a Soviet demand for the withdrawal of Finnish troops about sixteen miles from the border, and the fact that the Finns have' indicated. their willingness agree to this, provided that Rus Side carries out a. similar" withdrawal, in-Stead of being greeted as a reasonable reply, regarded as merely another instance. of Finnish. intransigeance. Finnish relations with the Soviet are established upon three trcaties.—the Treaty of Peace of 1920, which the Finns have always honoured, the Non-Aggression Pact with Russia of 1932 and yet another Pact concluded with the Soviet a Year later. Finland i a tree republic which only shook off Russia's domination twant tone years ago—and then by a. most bloody civil wor, "Tt was not merely the long cen tury under Russian despotism which served to embitter Finnish. relations with Russia but the struggle-—Finland's "War of Independence,—wt had to be waged by Man-Rerheim and his White Guard in 1918 to unseat the Russian Reds at. Holsinski and overthrow the Socialist Workers" Republic which they had proclaimed here. It was a war of but four months" duration, for Manherheim was able to draw on the help of von er Goltz and a German. army, because Germany was anxious to smash Tussian influence in that sphere if she could. Though short. it was a force conflict engulfing. the whole country, andthe sears. it left kept alive the resolve of Finland to resist intervention from the East in future. Today Finland stands, betrayed by Germany. alone meet the threats of a Russia which ix bent on acquiring a dominating. position. in_ the Baltic, Herr Hitler having sold out the German position there in a wild determination that, at all costs, he will save himself from having to ght on two fronts 'Ther' can. be little doubt about it that Moscow's policy includes the establishment of complete control of the Baltic, displacing the predominant interest of Germany, and a hegemony, politic and most probably military over the whole of Scandinavia In other words the total destruction of German influence and interest in eastern and north~ ern Burope. If Herr Hitler had. occasion to complain of the Allied policy of encitelement which could never have injured him had his policies remained pacific, what must thinking of the mistakes which he made a few short weeks ago which will in the end reduce Germany to a secondary position vis-B-vis of Russia. That Norway, And Sweden are watching the situation with Considerable anxiety is only natural, for a powerful Russia brought to their doorstep' by vielory over, und annexation of Finland would constitute a threat to themselves the magnitude of which cannot be over-estimated. Their only rampart is Finland, which may be depended upon to fight to the bitter end if war has to ensue. She will struggle against overwhelming odds, though the terrain will give her certain advantages which may make her a tougher nut to crack than Germany found in Poland. The soldierly quality of her troops has been harshly tested through the centuries, they are well-trained, well-equipped and certainly not unskilled cither in the use of modern arms or in the sold tactics of defensive warfare, and the independence of the country being threatened, Finland's sons may be confidently exnected to offer the most stubborn resistance to Russia's encroachments. Whether it will be possible to evade war at the eleventh hour only the future can tell. At the moment it does not seem likely, for in the furtherance plans for northern Europe whatever concessions Finland may make now will only establish precedents for further requirements to be advanced in the future. If, therefore, they decide to offer resistance to Russia who shall blame them for doing what their manhood and national dignity require?
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.