SOVIET ALLEGATION

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 December 1939, Page 7

SOVIET ALLEGATION

COMMITTEE “PACKED” POSITION IF NO REPLY IS MADE. ALLIES EXPECTED TO SUPPLY FINLAND. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. GENEVA. December 12. A special committee is continu- | ing the work of drafting a resolu- . tion in respect to Finland pending Russia's reply to the League truce proposal. Soviet sources describe the committee as “packed," declaring that only four of the 13 States represented on it have relations with Russia. If Russia does not reply, Britain and France are expected to supply Finland with war materials via Sweden. The Latin American States, which are most insistent that Russia should be expelled, have promised to supply the Finns with nitrates and beef. The general atmosphere of the discussions by the delegates to the Assembly of the League of Nations at Geneva was described in a talk broadcast by Daventry last night. The commentator said that the delegates could be divided roughly into two groups, the exclusionists and the negotiators, and their attitude was governed largely by their geographic position. Those who were far removed from war-ridden Europe were highly moral in their attitude, and those close to the belligerents were ready to snatch at any straw for a compromise. The commentator summarised the general opinion in Geneva as follows: (1) Germany wants Russia to walk out of the League or be expelled; (2) The Russian delegates are remaining at Geneva, but show no sign of walking out; (3) All omens point to a condemnation of the aggressor and material aid to the victim possibly organised through the League; (4) Behind all these looms the gigantic shadow of the United States of America.