While the decision of the Swedish Government to send no active military aid to Finland, ast week was greeted with some surprise, inform= Jed quarters in Paris who believe that it was due {to Germany's menacing attitude in the matter fare probably correct. The Reich is reported to have made it quite clear that any offer of Scandinavian aid to Finland would constitute Jan absolutely breach of neutrality, All this Imerely goes fo show how close Herr Hitler and Stalin are in the Russian grab for complete Jdominance of the Baltic, betraying an unanimity of purpose which is li the more surprising when it is remembered that this latest' move fon the part of the Reich is designed to facilitate the policies of Moscow which are diametrically opposed to the best interests of Germany. in.
sea which she has claimed as particularly her Jown reserve, It remains to be seen what will be the attitude of Germany regarding the very lective military assistance which is. being planned for Finland, as for example the des patch of the Garibaldian legion in France to Finland, which will necessitate its passing through Scandinavia, From the German attitude it is apparent that the Reich desires the ear= hest "possible termination of Russo-Finnish hostilities at no matier what the cost, and {rom this It Is to be deduced with justice that the view that Russia at war is useless to Germany is the correct one, Under the League of Nations' rules Scandinavian countries would be obliged to permit the transit of forces going to the assistance of another member of the League the subject of aggression, and it remains {0 be seen whether under the enormous pressure which Is being exercised they would refuse that form of assistance, That "Ger many may be confidently expected apply it may be taken for granted, The fate of Finland is as nothing to the Reich compared with the necessity of relieving the Soviet of its present preoccupation, and turning attention to the task of producing those supplies without which Germany cannot. possibly hope to ward off the stranglehold of the [Allied blockade, But even then Russia has little to offer Germany at the moment, will not have for a long ime to come, may not have for a larger number of years than can possibly prove acceptable to the Reich. It Is, therefore, with the desire to secure as early a termination of hostilities in Finland, that Germany is doing its utmost to help Russia secure a victory.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.