THE MASTERY OF THE BALTIC

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 226, 12 June 1918, Page 7

THE MASTERY OF THE BALTIC

GERMAN INTERVENTION IN FINLAND PRICE OP SWEDISH , NEUTRALITY , (London "Tihies" Correspondent.) Stockholm, March' 6. In refusing to come to tho aid of Finland in her struggle against rebellion «nd anarchy Sweden, through fear of boing led into somo breach of neutrality, .has alienated a natural ally, and has thrown her into the arms of Germany. When downtrodden Finland asserted her 'freedom, and by right of eclf-dctermina-tion declared her independence, Sweden —closely followed by Denmark and Norv.iy—was tho first to recognise that independence ' Sho : welcomed- with. enthusiasm tho new Republic into the confraternity of nations as a free State.,By racial affinity and social culture, by historical tradition and memories of past oppression, I'inland,'recoiling-from tho last, was bound to turn to the West and to gravitate towards Sweden. ' ' On the other hand, tho , inhabitants of iAaland, by tho same right of self-deter-3iiination, demanded tho annexation of tho Islands of' Sweden, and, aa King Gustav declared, to the Aaland deputation sent to plead for this anne.xa'tion, there was every, hope of their wish being, gratified by mutual agreement between Sweden , and Finland. Thus the secular dream of Swedish diplomacy— \ Finland a buffer .State .between her and .Russia; -the Aaland Archipelago linked to her shores, securing the entrance to the Gulf of Bothnia; tho freedom of the Baltic—seemed on the evo of accomplishment • Civif.War in Finland, Then suddenly revolution broke out in. Finland. Socialists and- Labour extremists, aided by, nil the unruly elements in tho country, 'raised the tlag of revolt against jthe.'.Government. Tho success of tho Bolshevists in Russia was in their favour. The Government had been freely elected by, the people, under the most liberal, democratic. Constitution in J-iiropo.'Buf tho rebels were supported .-.liy the Russian' Soldiery, who still occupied the country notwithstanding the recognition of its. independence by theßolishevist Government, Lenin and.'Trotsky, too, gave the rebels \their support on tho plea that they were' bound ,in principle lo favour a 'proletarian " against a bourgeois Administration. The Diet and Senate, • the legal Government of Finland, iled . to . the .north, calling ou.t volunteers and raising corps of "White-Guards" Yo defend the 'l.cpublic.. They had the , support of all the orderly elements. The army they raised under the. supremo command ot Count Mannerheiin is composed of all classes of tho population—peasants and > country labourers, city merchants, aud clerks, landowners. and members of the Jiberul professions, Swedish-and Finnish —speaking alike-all eager to defeat the nisurpers and to restore legal authority. -But they lacked arma. Not ono in five of these "White Guard" volunteers could, be furnished with a rifle, and no guns . could be opposed to the artillery of the Russian regiments fighting with : . the rebels. ■....■ ' -.'■■■ . A strong appeal was made to Sweden for help. Ihe Swedish Government were asked, even if they could not give direct military assistance, ■to allow the purchase and transport of arms and ammunition. Sweden declined. Such assistance might lead to breaches of neutral- ■ aty. Die purchase and transit of arms .to belligerents was prohibited. She ottered her mediation between the con. tending parties instead. Mediation between legality and rebellion was declined by tlio legitimate authorities in Finland. Hie rebels and soldiery, who dreaded the restoration of order and too close an inquiry iiito their depredations and methods of rule by terror, turned a deaf car to the proposal. The inhabitants oi Aaland alone were glad to accept • Swedish mediation between the Russian soldiers garrisoning- the isles; tho Finnish 'White Guards," sent to take pes- . session; and the "Red Guards," come to oppose them. They feared the-devas-tation of their villages during the inevitable conflicts between these contending forces. Tho Russian troops in the forts were .preparing to turn.their guns on the capital if the ';White Guards" at- • tempted to entor.it. German Intervention, : A Swedish naval expedition was 'sent to Aaland,' and, through the mediation of the Swedish officers, it was finally Agreed that all three forces Rhould evacuate the islands, leaving -the forts and their armaments in charge of the native population; until their ultimate destination-together with that of the islands—should be decided at the conclusion of peace. A small Swedisli io'rcß was landed' on the islands to sec ■(hat this agreement vas carried out. Meamvliilo the refusal of assistance to 1 inland was arousing bitter feelings of resentment there, which .the private demonstrations in Sweden of sympathy for Jier course failed to assuage., Numerous ' Swedish volunteers crossed the frontier to join Mannerheim's army; mo'ney was subscribed to aid his finances; ambulances' were sent to tend his wounded. But his progress against the rebel forces was elpw and precarious. Tho Premier

of the- li'inniiili Government, Svinlvul'vud, Kont warnings thai: liiiliw vnnro efleotivu assistance could bo given by Sweden, Finland would have U> apply elsewhere, 'I'lio Swedish -Government icmainod obdurate, interpellations by the Oppojiition in the Riksdag only p'liutcd renewed declaim lions about Mii-intorvoiuion, involviug tho maintenance of thn prohibition against the silo and triiiir.il; ofjirms. Tho result was disastrous. Finland, in her extremity, applied to Germany for aid; and Germany liot only eont by sea aJi immediate eonsignnient of arms— Japanese miles taken from tho demoralised Russian troops—but dispatched a powerful naral expedition against the insurgents, threatening t.hn coast, from ."Helaiiigfors to Abo'. The first thing this expedition did was to land a force, at AaJand and to establish an olapo station thoro. Whether this was absolutely necessary in view of the military operations is t|ueslioiiable'. TUit it served several purposes. Tho German Minister in Stockholm hastened in. tho name of his Government to assure , tho Swedish Govornraent that Germany had no intention of interfering with tho "humanitarian mission" which Sweden, was accomplishing at. Aaland, and that tho future of the islands would be settled .by common agreement between' Germany, Russia, Sweden, and Finland. A similar stipulation wns made in the treaty of peace signed witn the Bolshevist delegated at Brest Litovst.

Germany's preponderance is Urns established all over, tho Baltic. Her eommamling position at Dago, Riga, and Reval is completed by her moral influence over the Finnish Government, duo to hw timely assistance, anil her command at the entranco to the Gulf of Bothnia at Aaland. Scandinavian hopes of an independent Finand on ono side and free Federated States on the other, ensuring the entire freedom of the Baltic, must under such conditions vanish altogether.

. There is but scant consolation in the thongKt that theso arrangements are subject to final adjustment—that, according to Bismarck's saying, peoples soon get to hate, their liberators. "Bcati possidentes" is still a potent maxim at peace congresses, especially when possession is presented as a result of solf-determina-tibn, and -politicat influences are not easy fo shako off when they become crystallised in commercial domination. Swedish opinion was divided about the Government's attitude towards Finland; but it is unanimous in deploring the results of non-intervention.