FATE OF FINLAND

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 March 1940, Page 7

FATE OF FINLAND

DEPLORED IN UNITED STATES ALLIES NOT BLAMED EFFECT ON THE MILITARY SITUATION. SOME DIVERSE OPINIONS. By Telegraph—Press Association.—Copyright. NEW YORK, March 13. The “New York Times’’ and New York "Herald-Tribune” print almost identical leading articles on the Russo-Finnish development. While deploring the fate of Finland as a blow to Allied prestige, they emphasise that it is unlikely to affect the Allies’ military situation. The “New York Times" points out that if the creation of a Scandinavian front had been vital, the Allies would have acted earlier. It adds that America is not justified in criticising either the Allies or Sweden. The “Herald-Tribune” says: “The Allied support for Finland must always have been a very risky venture. The Allied command, whatever the popular desire may have been, is well rid of a puzzling military problem. Americans have no right to cast stones at Congress for its hesitation to assume the slightest risk.” The Washington correspondent of the “Nev.' York Times” says that the first reaction here to the RussianFinnish' peace is a belief that the entire Scandinavian area will be neutralised, recasting future events in the European war. While it is felt that Finland has been spared the horrors of war, there is uncertainty concerning the effects on the Allies. There is a tendency in diplomatic quarters to regard the peace as a diplomatic blow to Britain and France. 6 . NAZI JUBILANT GREAT SETBACK SEEN FOR ALLIES. LONDON. March 13. A Berlin message states that the Nazi spokesman did not conceal • his jubilation over the peace, which he described as an honourable one and a diplomatic and military setback of the first magnitude for the Allies