THE SOVIET AND SCANDINAVIA.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 March 1940, Page 4

THE SOVIET AND SCANDINAVIA.

QB.TECTIONS raised by the Soviet Government to the tentatively proposed defensive alliance between the Scandinavian States and Finland throw extremely serious doubts on recent statements by Russia that she has no further territorial demands to make in. north-western Europe and desires a reestablishment of friendly relations. Ostensibly, Hie Soviet bases its objections to the proposed alliance on the fact that the Russo-Finnish peace treaty provides that neither party shall enter into an alliance directed against the other. Both the Finnish and Swedish Foreign Ministers have pointed out, however, that the proposed pact would be purely defensive. - There is no reason to doubt, that these 'assurances are offered quite sincerely. It defeats the imagination to suppose that Finland and the Scandinavian States would enter into an alliance with a view to an ultimate attack on Russia. On the other hand, it is possible that the Soviet perceives in the proposed pact an obstacle to the extension of Russian influence and domination over Finland and the Scandinavian countries. As was observed in a cablegram from Stockholm on Thursday: “Russia’s objection to the pae’t remains a mystery unless the Soviet Government regards a pact against aggression as being directed against itself.’’ ft is becoming more and more clear that the continued independent existence of small Stab's must depend in the first instance upon these States being- prepared to assert and uphold their own. rights and to an even greater extent upon Ihe establishment and enforcement of a reign of law in international affairs.