"Mr, Chamberlain then said that he would deal with the question of assistance to Finland under two heads, namely, assistance in material, and assistance in men.
In regard to material he reminded the House that the country was at war, and that all requests for help from friendly neutrals must therefore be weighed in the balance against Britain's own needs. Much as they desired to give Finland all she asked, he said, they had always to bear in mind that whatever they gave, it was at the expense of their own strength and at the risk of their own people. He emphasized Finland's geographical position in relation to this country, jand that supplies had to traverse dangers, pass through two other countries, along a railway already seriously over-loaded, and then go long distances through Finland by railway which was never meant to carry such loads.
[The difüculties were formidable, but nevertheless, the appeal from Finland did not remain unanswered, and every request from Finland was considered promptly.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.