The Waikato Times THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14, 1939 RUSSIA’S SILENCE

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20987, 14 December 1939, Page 8

The Waikato Times THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14, 1939 RUSSIA’S SILENCE

League of Nations members will probably not be surprised that Russia tailed within the 24 hours allowed to make a reply to the request that hostilities between Russia and Finland should cease while mediation was attempted with a view to establishing peace, and no more surprised that the plea was finally rejected. Stalin no doubt made up his mind on that score when he decided to invade Finland. It is unlikely that the League will expel Russia from membership, but it is just as unlikely that the Soviet will be willing to continue as a useful collaborator. Again she is mimicing Germany and showing herself just as unreliable and unreasonable. How can the League of Nations hope to succeed when the great Powers are led, or suppressed, by such men ? The tragedy of it is that the common Russian people know nothing of what Stalin is doing for them. It is impossible to believe that if they were in possession of all the facts they would condone all of Stalin’s actions. They have given their destiny into the hands of this unscrupulous adventurer and aggressor, and the League of Nations, founded to preserve liberty, can deal only with him and not with them. Unless the people of Russia can be awakened to a sense of their danger it seems the Soviet will go the way of Germany, and the League will be still further weakened and even more impotent. What has become of the fine sentiments expressed by the Russian delegates at Geneva when the sins of other nations were under discussion ? The League will now probably pass pious resolutions which Stalin will contemptuously ignore, but perhaps Finland’s appeal to the League will not be entirely in vain. The objectors to Russia’s aggression have been brought together on common ground, and their resolution to do all in their power individually to assist Finland and discourage Russia’s designs will be strengthened. The assembly has served to disclose where Russia may expect sympathy, neutrality or active opposition, and the prospect cannot be comforting to Stalin. The fact that he has earned the disgust and loathing of the greater part of the civilised world may mean something to him. With each successive international crisis, and whenever the collective aid of the nations is sought, the League of Nations seems to suffer further casualties. But the remaining faithful members are keeping the spirit alive. It is well that they should do so, for the time may not be far distant when admission to the ranks will be as desirable and as popular as resignations are now. Reforms may be necessary, but the central idea is indestructible. If it were destroyed utterly there would be little hope left for civilisation. It so happens that those nations which remain loyal to the League will certainly be the victors in the present great struggle. What then ? The League may now be much nearer a renascence than it was before the peace of the world was shattered by Germany and Russia. In the meantime, apparently Finland must struggle on against impossible odds.