Choice Of East Or West For Scandinavians

Chronicle (Levin), 19 January 1949, Page 5

Choice Of East Or West For Scandinavians

(N.Z.P.A,

— Reuter.

, Copvright)

Iiccoivcd Tvicsday, 7 p.m. -LOXBOX, .Tan. 3S. Itcpoi'ts roa(-]iing London from Sfockliolm, Oslo and ("openliagon indicate llial t li o Seandinavian countries, >Sweden, Xorvvay and Deumark, are seriously dividod about measures tliey should take for their defenee. Xorway and Denniark have been in viti-d by the United States to join tne Xortli Atlantie, Paet. l>ut Sweden, which is niililarily nuich the strongest of the tiio, has not reeeived anv invitation and is doing her best to persuade her luo neighliours to koep clear of eatangleuieuts witll the West. Swedish pulicy is now, as it has alwavs been, -t ri -t armed neutralit.v and The. Swedes bidieve that there is no reason to abani 1 1 a a poticy which has paid thein we IJ i n ihe jiast. and kept tliem out of tvve wrid wars. Xorway, on the eontrarv, places no I'aitli in neutrality and is attxious to "iitain guarantees of assistancc from ihe United States, Britain and other sufijjorters of tlie Xorth Atlantie Paet. Benmark has 'been trying to lind a ■•oiupronuse solutiou which will at one and the same tim'e preserve the unity "f the Scandinavian nations and enabie them to obtain some slielter under tliv Xorth Atlantie Paet. These Banish atlempts at mediation, however, have been virtually killed Itv the Americatt declaration that only those countries wliich are jirejiared to join the Xorth Atlantie Paet can expe.ct Amerieaii assistanee. As there appears to be little prospect of the Swedes abandoning their poliey of neutrality, it is now expeeted that Xorway and Benmark will sign the paet, leaving the Swedes in an isolateu position between the Kastern ano Western camps. X'o iinal decision has yct been reaclied but in view of-the imminence of a statement upon the Xorth Atlantie Paet wliich is now being drafted in Washington, it is expeeted the three Scandinavian nations will make their intentions known no latei than January 29, when thefr Befenee AI i nisters are to hold another meeting. Tliis is likely to be the last of a series of meetinfs at wliich representatives of the three countries have been endeavouring to arrive at agreement on a joini defenee poliey. Until the United States State Department made its announeement, the Scandinavian group liad hoped to sign an alliance for mutual assistanee and to

invite the Americans to supply them witli arms and equipment withont incurring obligations implieit in signing the Nortli Atlantie Paet. It is believed that other West European countries which will sign the paet, strongly objected to the Scandinavians being allowed to receive assistanee' withont incurring obligations and thgt the Ameriean statement was designed to remove any Scandinavian misapprehensions on this point.