ATTACK DOUBTFUL

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20108, 30 November 1939, Page 5

ATTACK DOUBTFUL

SOVIET PRESSURE FINNS ON QUI VIVE NEW CABINET WANTED ~ AMERICAN REACTION (Reed. Nov. 30, 9 a.m.) NEW YORK, Nov. 28. “It is still difficult to be dogmatic concerning the Soviet’s intentions towards Finland,” says Mr. G. E. R. Gedye, the Moscow correspondent of the New York Times. “Reviewing calmly all the sound o£ fury of press and the radio on the popular anti-Finnish campaign, it would be most unwise to treat it as signifying nothing, but probably it does not signify an intention to attack immediately. “The impression persists that the whole campaign is intended to keep the Finns on the qui vive to prevent their releasing men from the colours and allowing evacuees to return to the cities.

army established in Finland as one of Germany’s anti-Soviet outposts, thus obliging her until now to accept this role. To-day, at the bidding of Herr Hitler and Herr Von Ribbentrop, she has been handed over to become an outpost of the Soviet.”

A Washington message says that, despite the Soviet denunciation of the non-aggression pact, White House officials are confident that Russia does not want war if her objectives can bf achieved otherwise.

It is believed in Washington that Moscow will continue efforts to encourage the Finns to overthrow their Government and otherwise attempt to win their claims short of war. However, should all these fail, it is feared that Russia would unleash her army since she is anxious to achieve her aims in the Baltic before the end of the year in order to be free to turn to the Balkans and Persia in the spring. It is argued in Washington that if Russia failed with Finland, her weapons would be blunted in the south-east. It is believed that Germany has already given Russia her assent to proceed in the Black Sea and would even possibly provide ports in the Adriatic and certainly Persia, since this would bring Russia into direct conflict with Britain. Thus increasing pressure against the Finns is expected. The Helsinki correspondent of the New York Times .says that some opinion prevails that the Soviet, even at this stage, will not demonstrate her military prowess to Finland, but will continue to keep her small neighbour on tenterhooks in the hope that Hie protracted suspense and the heavy financial outlay for mobilisation will prove too much for the nation’s nerves.

"Certainly the Soviet is without the wish to be drawn into a world war. Moreover, the recent formal expression of Scandinavian sympathies for Finland must be considered in the possible consequences of an attack. Also, the American display of sympathy to the Finns on October 13. made its mark here.

“The chief objective of the Soviet’s anti-Finnish campaign clearly has been to force a change of Government in Finland by making the present Government's position untenable through ridicule and discontent due to the prolonged mobilisation.

“To-day has been the darkest day for the peoDle of Finland for eight nainfill weeks, and everybody realises the climax is approaching,” continues the correspondent. “General calm, however, reigns everywhere and the nennle are confident that the Cabinet will do the utmost to preserve peace’

“It is perhaps now thought that fear of invasion may induce the Finns to force the Government’s resignation, but it is difficult to imagine that any other regime could, aside from full capitulation, cede territory which is considered vital to Finland’s preservation.

The New Vnvir Times in an editorial, says: “The Russian Government, mnv not care what American opinion thinks of the matter, but it. is entitled to know before it takes the final step that Finland holds a mrticularly warm place in the rc<meet, and affection of the American neonle and invasion of the country bv Soviet troops would trouble Rus-sian-American relations for many years to come.”

“The greatest indignation felt in Finnish circles is not against the Soviet but Germany, whose forces defeated the Russian revolutionary