"It was really only a few days before the final collapse that we were informed that the situation was considered serious." te request made by the Finns was re-Mr, Chamberlain said that every
ferred to chiefs of staff to know whether they considered it justified in the circumstances in which Britain found herself, "If we had considered solely those things which were naturally properly in the minds of the chiefs of state we should have sent very much less than we did," he dis-
"The Cabinet took the responsibility and risks in sending the equipment and material we thought might help the Finns to hold out."
Dealing with criticism that the Government had been too late, Mr. Chamberlain stressed the enormous preparation required for such an expedition, Troops had to be specially selected and equipped to work in deep snow.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.