Wairarapa Times-Age THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 1940. A DICTATED PEACE.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 March 1940, Page 6

Wairarapa Times-Age THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 1940. A DICTATED PEACE.

AS the details of peace between. Russia and I* inland aie reported, the latter country has accepted terms so onerous that, it is evident she feels herself no longer able effectively to resist the enemy by whom these terms are imposed. Since they became a nation again, and above all in a heroic Mil effort during the last three months to which there are lew parallels in history, the people of Finland have manifested an inflexible determination to maintain and defend their independence at all costs. So far as Finland s fate, is to be governed by the terms of the treaty now concluded with Russia, however, her independence plainly is a thing of the ptist. While that treaty stands, a future of undisturbed security for the Finns can only he made possible by international influences counteracting the grip Soviet Russia has now fastened upon them. At an immediate viflw, the outlook opened for Finland is anything but promising. Under the terms of the treaty Russia gets the whole of the Karelian Isthmus, together with further Karelian territory around the shores of Lake Ladoga, and Arctic territory giving her direct access to Norway. In addition, the Soviet is to get a thirty years’ lease of territory on llanko Peninsula, within easy distance of the Finnish capital of Helsinki, on which to establish a military and air base. In other words, the treaty is one under which Finland is required to surrender her most vital defences and to place her most valuable and vulnerable territory at Russia’s mercy. To the fact that these terms have been forced upon Finland it has to be added that Norway and Sweden have made it possible for this to happen. According to the Finnish Foreign Minister, M. Tanner, the refusal of Norway and Sweden to let troops through had proved unconquerable. All possible weight is thus given to his further statement : —- The surrender was not our fault. It was the fault of being deserted by our fellow democracies. In thus deserting Finland, Norway and Sweden refused to carry out an obligation they had accepted as members of the League of Nations. In that capacity they had undertaken that in the event of action against a covenant-breaking nation they would take the necessary steps to afford passage through their territory to the forces of any of the members of the League which were co-operating to. protect the covenants of the League. . Norway and Sweden have declared their full sympathy with Finland and in. a measure have given that sympathy practical expression. They have both done a good deal in supplying her with volunteers and material, in addition to permitting the passage of volunteers and material from other countries. They have also insisted, however, as the Swedish Foreign Minister, Mr Guenther, put it the other day, that the maintenance of neutraPty'was the best way of helping Finland. Li what manner it is expected that the accuracy of this contention will be demonstrated is at the moment anything but clear. The immediate effect in any case has been to withhold from Finland the assistance of an Allied expeditionary force and so to seal her fate. The policy of Norway and. Sweden presumably has been based throughout on a belief that if they made common cause with Finland, or afforded a passage to Allied troops going to her assistance, they would be attacked by Germany and Russia. It can hardly be thought that a preferable alternative has been found, even from the standpoint of the Scandinavian States, in abandoning Finland to the fate of having to accept the terms now imposed on her by Russia. An undefeated Finland was not only in itself independent, but was a buttress protecting Norway and Sweden from attack. With Finland reduced to helplessness, Norway and Sweden also are exposed dangerously. They may be hoping that the play and balance of international forces will give them security. Possibly I hey even believe that Germany will protect them, and perhaps Finland as well, against further Russian aggression. At best, hopes of this kind seem to rest on an exceedingly doubtful foundation. MEN FOR WAR SERVICE. excellent purpose no doubt is being served by the recruiting rallies now being conducted throughout the Dominion—one is to be held in Masterton tomorrow evening —in helping to awaken the community to a full realisation and appreciation of the war emergency by which we are confronted. On this great question sectional differences have been sunk. The National Party is co-operating unreservedly with the Government in its appeal to the manhood of the country and tomorrow evening the Leader of the Opposition (the Hon A. Hamilton), the member for the district (Mr J. Robertson) and others will speak in Masterton in furtherance of that appeal. Of late there has been a slackening in the rate of recruiting and a very serious state of affairs .would be brought about if that slackening were to continue. The Dominion is pledged to maintain a division of troops in. the field and if that pledge is to be honoured recruits must be found, not only to complete the division but to provide reinforcement drafts while the war continues. Recruiting has fallen away of late in the Wairarapa, as well as in other parts of the country, but it was officially slated a week or two ago that the East Coast District quota for the Third Echelon was more than full, though the district had provided a large number of men to fill the shortage in quotas from other areas.

Il is no doubt essential Io the sinoolli and efficient working of (he voluntary system that all disl riels should produce I heir quotas ol men for overseas service. Apart from any question ol equity and fair play directly involved, the quota system of course has its importance and value in tending to ensure, in the extent to which it is adhered to, that disabilities resulting from the withdrawal of men from industrial and other employment shall not be accentuated unduly in particular areas. It is in the national interest that balance should be maintained in tliis matter and in others.

No doubt there twill be a full attendance to hear Air Hamilton and other speakers al the recruiting rally in Masterton tomorrow evening. On the central issue involved, only one opinion is possible. In common with the rest of the democratic world, New Zealand is dependent for continued life and liberty on the acceptance by its lit manhood of the burden and sacrifice of war service. In the conditions that exist fodav, national security and the maintenance of all that as a people we hold dear are dependent upon an adequate response to the call to arias.