LITTLE HOPE SEEN

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 March 1940, Page 7

LITTLE HOPE SEEN

ATTEMPTS TO COERCE FINLAND “ALL WESTERN CIVILISATION AT STAKE.” RIBBENTROP'S PROBLEMS IN ROME. (BritlsTi Official Wireless.) RUGBY, March 10. Advices received in London do not encourage the hope that Russia will abate the demands which caused the Finnish Government three months ago to choose to fight against uneven odds rather than compromise their country’s independence. The “Sunday Times,” in a leader, says: "All Western civilisation has a stake in the saving of Finland.” It adds that the continued resistance of the Finns is particularly disliked by Germany, not merely because it represents victory for the civilised principles against which she is fighting, but because it uses up Russian resources which she hoped otherwise to divert to herself. She is therefore joining with Russia in a diplomatic attempt to exploit the situation at Viborg by coerc- • ing the Finns into a capitulation. GERMANY'S ANXIETIES. Though what is going on in the various capitals is still obscure, it is clear that not only has the war been embarrassing to Germany all along from the point of view of absorbing supplies, but it is bound to create the greatest uneasieness in Scandinavia. Germany is worried about the supply of iron ore from Sweeten, and her anxiety has been shown in her repeated allegations that the Allies want to drag Scandinavia into war. Herr von Ribbentrop will have to meet the Italian leaders against a backus ground of events which must be uncomfortable —the coal agreement between Italy and England and the demonstration of the Nazi attitude to neutrals as portrayed by the bombing and machine-gunning recently of the Italian steamer Amelia Lauro. Herr von Ribbentrop also has to face the hatred of the Italian people for Communism and the fact that the pact with Stalin has given a blow to the Rome-Berlin axis from which it has never recovered. A vital point in Herr von Ribbentrop's policy is to try and repair the damage and keep Russia -as an accomplice at the same time. Some reports say that he will try and get full Italian

support for Germany, though today's Fascist Press indicates that any attempts will not be met with a warm reception. Unless the Russian demands are better than those of last week, the Finns are not likely to accept them. The Finnish Government will have to decide whether the Soviet is so disillusioned by small results and ‘ the terrific cost of the campaign that'it is prepared to make peace with only a token of victory, or whether it is trying to do what Hitler did at Munich—get Finland at hei- mercy, to be devoured a little later. ATTITUDE OF SWEDEN. The attitude of Sweden is of the greatest importance. There are ageold links between Sweden and Finland, and sympathy is felt for Finland among the Swedish population. No doubt the Swedish Government is a good deal more cautious than the rest of the Swedish population. No one except the Government knows what threats the Nazis have made to keep Sweden out of the conflict. These have determined the Swedish Government not to give Finland direct military aid, including direct Allied help which might be sent across their territory. The possibility of Britain and France adding to the help already given Finland is being discussed all ovei’ Europe. They could do a lot more, and would be ready if the Finns say that Russia’s terms amount to annihilation and if the Swedish Government will modify its present attitude so as to make adequate Allied help possible.