Wairarapa Times-Age SATURDAY, JANUARY 13, 1940. THE THREAT TO SCANDINAVIA.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 January 1940, Page 4

Wairarapa Times-Age SATURDAY, JANUARY 13, 1940. THE THREAT TO SCANDINAVIA.

AN indicated disposition on the part, of the Scandinavian X States to take an ever firmer stand against Nazi bulging* is to be welcomed as helping to impart an element of stability to the otherwise rather menacing situation that is developing in north-western Europe. The conquest or domination ol the Scandinavian nations by the Russo-German partnership would not only be an outrageous extension of the policy of aggression as it has developed in Europe and elsewhere, but, if it were carried out successfully would create new and serious problems for the Allies.

Much depends on the extent, if any, to which the Russian and Nazi dictatorships are prepared to pool their military interests in the Baltic. Reason has appeared, and appears still, for doubting whether this pooling can be carried very far. On this subject the London correspondent of an Australian newspaper .wrote recently: —

An earlier belief—notably encouraged by Mr Winston Churchill in his broadcast on October I—that1 —that Russia is working to Germany’s disadvantage by forestalling Germany, and grabbing her share of the strategic points of the Baltic, is now discarded in many quarters. The Finnish war is now viewed as an attempt by a Russo-German coalition to establish itself in Northern Europe. It is believe d that if Finland is ''pulverised in the manner of Poland, Germany will be on the way to achieving ascendancy in Northern Europe, because the appearance of a German-Russian coalition on the shores of the Northern A - lantic—at Petsamo, and at Varanger Fjord, and Narvik on the Norwegian coast—would threaten Britain’s northern overseas communications.

Time and events must show how far the change of belief hete recorded is justified bv the facts of the ease. It is not. in doubt that Nazi Germany would very gladly extend her sphere o operations by way of the northern Baltic to the Aictic coast and to the Atlantic eoast of Norway. That the Soviet dictatorship would be willing on any terms to alow Germany to occupy and use these coastal zones has yet, however, to be made apparent.

It is a matter, not of conjecture, but of visible fact, that the Soviet has seized Baltic bases to the disadvantage of Germany. Russia and Germany are the only competitors for military and naval control of the Baltic and the Soviet quite obviously has been acting against Germany in establishing bases in' the Baltic States. The demands on Finland which Russia is now seeking to enforce by invasion are in the same general category. The establishment of Russian bases in Finland would be meaningless save as giving the Soviet an extended and more assured command over the Baltic in opposition to Germany.

An opinion is widely held by the Finns, as well as by many foreign observers, that the conquest of Finland is regarded by the Soviet as a stage in an advance through Sweden and Norway to the Atlantic coast, of the last-mentioned country. Whether that opinion is justified or not, it seems at least doubt 1 ill whether Russia would be prepared to enter into extended measures of military and naval co-operation which not improbably would put Germany into a position to challenge the considerable measure of ascendancy Russia meantime has gained in that region.

Should Russia, and Germany agree to co-operale in unrestricted aggression in. and beyond the Baltic, a deadly threat undoubtedly would be raised in the independence and integrity of the'Scandinavian countries and at the same time the enemy powers might hope in this way to outflank the Allied blockade and to open up new prospects in tin* war at sea. if seems likely to count for a great deal, however, that combined action on these lines would seriously weaken Russia’s position in relation to Germany and that the Soviet has no obviously adequate motive for allowing affairs to take that course.

Whatever the actual aims ami intentions of the two dictatorships may he, it is not in doubt that a strong stand by the Scandinavian countries —particularly Sweden and Norway —in defence of their own independence and integrity, in rendering all possible assistance to Finland and in facilitating measures by the Allies to help that country, may do much to avert the worst dangers the situation holds.

As was pointed out by the Copenhagen correspondent of (he “New York Times” in a message cabled yesterday, it is O]ien to the Allies to render powerlnl assistance to the Scandinavian countries, provided the latter are prepared to defend themselves stoutly, against an attack by the dictatorships. There are some grounds for hoping that (he united stand the Scandinavian countries are reported Io be taking against Nazi bullying on (lie question of assistance to Finland and on other issues may discourage any attack ol the kind. It is at all events verv much to the good that ; ItAeii Denniaik is leltisiug to toe Hitler’s line in the Russo-Finnish conflict.''