"Hesitation might be permissible in the formulation of policy but surely not in its execution. Events have shown that it was indeed unfortunate that the Allies allowed their intended initiative to be wrested from them.
"It is known to everybody that need for men was urgent. It was only three weeks after the decision was taken by the Supreme War Council, and when the Finnish Government already was actually in touch with Moscow, that they were informed that the dispatch of men as well os materials was contingent on a further appeal being made by them."
Mr. Here-Belisha then referred to the fact that the Norwegian Foreign Minister had stated that a request was made to them to allow troops through only when Soviet-Finnish peace talks already were under way.
There was uniformity of opinion that powerful onslaughts from the sir could have broken the Russian attack, he stated.
None of the objections raised to the dispatch of troops could have prevented the sending of squadrons of the Royal Air Force, the former War Secretary declared.
(Continued on page 8, col. 1)
London, Mar. 20.
In the House of Commons this afternoon, Mr. R. A. Butler, Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, was asked whether any arrangement had been made with the Government tal ship.
"We must always expect attacks on our fleet bases, and on our northern and eastern shores, but we are confident of our ability to meet them. This was-the first attack made upon the land."—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.