The step which the Soviet has taken breaking off diplomatic relations with Finland is but a further exercise of that pressure by means of which the Kremlin hopes to gain acquiescence to its demands without actually going to war. It does not seem that there is now much else left for M, Stalin to do, should Finland determine to stand by her guns, than actually to embark upon war: fare, and attempt to seize by force what Fin= land is not willing to surrender. In a last endeavour to prevent the outbreak of war between the two countries, which in the event of Russian success would in all probability mean the disappearance of Finland as: fan Independent state, the U, 8. Secretary of State made the following important "an= nouncement on Thursday at the usual Press conference The Government of the United States is watching with serious concern the aggravation of the crisis between Finland and Soviet Russia, The American Government would, view with extreme regret any extension of the present sphere of hostilities. the con sequence of which would further deteriorate Inernational relations, Without taking sides any manner whatsoever in the dispute, and with the idea of merely advising a peace-{ul settlement of the dispute. the United States Government. would be happy to offer their ood offices if both purlles expressed such making this announcement the United States Government have gone further than it done since the commencement of the various crises which have led to the present war, On those occasions there has been no elfer of good otices, Washington contenting itself with requesting the various Gove ments concerned to settle their differences peacefully, oF to submit to arbitration, 1 this connection it has to be remembered that President Roosevelt's last appeal along these lines was answered by the Governments. to which It was addressed with the exception of Herr Hitler, whose discourtesy in this respect is now recognized ax indicating even then his intention of embarking upon such courses ax he must have known would me evitably lead to warfare, "The method of making the annou quoted above is interesting and impo upon the request of the parties in this present crisis that the America ment is prepared ty move, and so phi constitutes nu intervention into European affairs unasked, but is ximpl readiness to give whatever help can be given towards an adjustment of the difficulty, and even then only upon the ex; of the {wo nations involved, It is. proba that Finland will avail itself of the opportunity. whi but doubtful who ume course. her in which negotiations nave been between Finland, and Russia provides all the evidence necessary that the Kremlin will be content with nothing tess than Finnish compliance with all the demands made upon her. 'The acceptance of the United States' good offices would presuppose some sort of compromise between the (we countries, which in turn would involve the abandonment of some portion of the Russian demands. So long as the Russian high eommand is able to advise the government that it can reckon wi on obtaining the Kremlin's desires without tov great a loss of so Tong will there not jon of the situation, It is the consciousness of might that M. Stalin is endeavouring to impose his will upon smaller nation, is that, conscious which in his opinion permits of that ruthless h it is clear may in the ultimate result be exhibited. One of the aimiculties with which the Finnish Government is faced is that ther show that these dem: be the last which the Si put forward, The Hiterian technique has been so faithfully copied up to the present that there is everything to Justily the belief that the more that is conceded to M. Stalin the more he will require, These demand: which the dictators have put forward have not been based upon any but merely:
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.