AGGRESSIVE AIM

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20112, 5 December 1939, Page 5

AGGRESSIVE AIM

SOVIET ASSAILED FEELING ON CONTINENT SWEDEN AND DENMARK ITALIAN INDIGNATION (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Heed. 12.15. p.m.) LONDON, Dec. 4. 'Reports from the Continent continue to indicate the .general reaction hostile to the Soviet following the Russian invasion of Finland. Frequent demonstrations in favour of Finland are being held throughout Denmark. Hundreds of students overnight marched in the streets of Copenhagen shouting: ‘"Long live Finland!” They cheered outside the Finnish Legation and finally were dispersed by the police while they were demonstrating outside a Communist newspaper office. The Swedish Cabinet to-night decided to call up further conscripts and reservists in addition to the large contingents involved in yesterday’s calling up. It also cancelled the discharges due to conscripts already serving. An indignant mob smashed the windows of the Communist newspaper, Nydag, and attempted to storm the Russian Legation, but was headed off by the police. The churches observed two minutes of silence for prayers for Finland. Urgent Stockholm Problem The .Stockholm newspaper, Svenske Dagbladet, says the urgent question is whether Sweden should immediately and effectively aid Finland. The alternative might be that Sweden would have to face Russian demands alone if Finland were conquered.

The Stockholm correspondent of Tlie Times says that the former Finnish Foreign Minister, M. Erkko, has been appointed as the Finnish Charge d’Affaires in Stockholm.

Messages from Rome state that indignation against the Russian invasion of Finland increases 'hourly. The Soviet Embassy is carefully guarded in expectation of further demonstrafions. The Italian newspapers, in giving accounts from Finland, all sympathise with the defenders.

Students demonstrated before the Finnish Legation, in Rome, shouting anti-Soviet slogans. They cheered the Finnish minister who three times appeared on the balcony. The students then marched to the Soviet Embassy where they were dispersed by a strong detachment of police. The Messagero pays a tribute to the accuracy of the Finnish artillery, stating that it knocked out 30 tanks in one battle near Petsamo and adds that large units of parachutists who were landed behind the Karelian defences were wiped out after a bitter struggle.

Scurvy Among Russians

The Popolo di Roma declares that the Finns found many of the Russians whom they had taken prisoner suffering from scurvy and lack of warm clothing.

Vatican sources predict that the Pope will appeal in general terms for peace when he addresses the consistory oil December 11. There is no confirmation of the original German reports of a Papal Christmas truce proposal* It is added that His Holiness might suggest an armistice if assured beforehand that all the belligerents would accept the suggestion. The Budapest representative otf the New York Times sees the Russian invasion of Finland increasing the weakness of the Hungarian National Socialists, many people believing that the green-shirted version of Hitlerism is on its last legs. The main causes are the Russian-German pact, the invasion of Poland 'bringing communism to the Hungarian frontier, Herr Hitler’s plans to repatriate Germans from the Balkans, and Russia's attack on Finland. Sofia reports sta*e that the entire Bulgarian press supports the Russian invasion of Finland.