TENSION IN SWEDEN

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 December 1939, Page 7

TENSION IN SWEDEN

PROSPECTIVE POLITICAL CHANGES ACTIVE SUPPORT OF FINLAND. FAVOURED BY LARGE MAJORITY. LONDON. December 4. A message from Stockholm states that a reconstitution of the Swedish Cabinet by a coalition is expected in a few days, but many forecast that the Government. will not survive a month and will be forced out by an organised movement in which the lead-4 ers of all sections will co-op-erate in favour of supporting Finland. Then a new Government, pledged to aid Finland. will assume the reins. Seventy per cent of Sweden’s population favours active intervention. The official Finnish news agency states that Finland is receiving millions of marks from Sweden for the 1 relief of evacuees. The agency adds that the steamer Iskar 11. left Turku for Stockholm today with 200 passengers, mainly Scandinavians and foreigners returning home. M Erkko ( former Foreign Minister. who is now Finnish Charge d - Affaires in Stockholm) was aboard. In Finland between 300 and 400 Swedes have joined up lor service with the defenders. From Stockholm it is reported by radio, that preparations are being made to evacuate the city if the need should arise. ALARM GROWING PARTIAL MOBILISATION ORDERED. (Received This Day. 9.10 a.m.) STOCKHOLM. December 5. As the result of increasing alarm. Sweden, for the first time, has admitted officially partial mobilisation. Some 40,000 troops have been called up, including artillery and engineers, making a total under arms of approximately 150,000. The normal total is 20,000. RYTI GOVERNMENT STILL RECOGNISED BY NAZIS. (Received This Day, 10.25 a.m.) BERLIN, December 5. It is semi-officially stated that Germany still recognises the Ryti Government. The Terjoki Government has not yet approached the Reich. ADD Empire air scheme.