Evening star., 1939-12-03

| for Soviet decision to ravage its neighbor
nation; only from Berlin came approval.
To Americans Finland has been noted
for two things: Cd Faithful payment
twice each year to
u S.-FinIond United States of post
Er;endshin war debt instalments:
ca setting example by
popular repeal in 1881 of national pro-
hibition against alcoholic beverages, i'm
posed as was our own during World
War era.
But the nation of gray, towering
, northern landscapes" with culture that
has given the world of music Jan
Sibelius and the world of literature F.
E. Sillanpaa, has history of turbulence
and courage.
For centuries a sort of battle-ground
on which Sweden and Russia staged
their spasmodic wars, territory was an
nexed by Russia in 1909 as self-govern-
ing duchy, with Gear as grand duke.
Efforts to "Russianize" Firms created
ntagonisms-during World War more
Firms fought with Germans than against
them.
In 1917, when Bolshevik government
took over land of the Cars, Finland pro-
claimed itself independent, was recog-
nized as such by treaty Of Brest-Litovsk.
When Communist forces attempted
grand coup, there was reign of red ter
ror; when German counter Communists
were rushed to aid there was reign OF
white terror. Briefly, brother-in-law OF
Kaiser Wilhelm sat as crowned ruler Of
Finland.
Then, with collapse Of Germany in
November, 1918, little Baltic nation once
more proclaimed it's independence. In
1920 came recognition from Soviet gov
ernment, cession of narrow strip Of ter
ritory which gave Finland access to
Arctic Ocean. on-aggression pact was
signed in 1882, reaffirmed in 1878.
Popular government of Finland has
been promptly vigorous in suppressing
Communist and Nazi movements.
Commercially, nation has imported
most of its finished products from Ger
many, exported most of its natural prod
uctS to Great Britain.
Since Polish debacle all military sta
tistics are treated with modicum OF
skepticism Best available, however, in
dicates that Finland might muster army
of some 100000 with
Finn Army perhaps no more than
Of 100000? 100000 trained or ade-
quately equipped. At
sea. tinv nation boasts two defensive
cruisers, five submarines, six gunboats,
21 mine sWeepers, six mine layers ~
patrol boats In air, and IN de1enseS
from air. Baltic state would be even more
impotent than above figures indicate.
To pit against this defensive strength
of nation of 100000 persons, Soviet Rus
sia of 16S,OOoo00 can muster army
strength in millions some 5000 military
airplanes and navy embracing three bat
tleships, seven cruisers, 38 destroyers and
100 submarines.
But all of Europe's wartime diplomacy
did not revolve last week around Fin
lands sorrow.
For instance, all Britain's Prime Min
| lister Chamberlain wants, he told the
world by radio, is defeat of that ag-
gressive, bullying mentality which seeks
continually to dominate other peoples by
force. which finds a brutal satisfaction
in the persecution and torture OF no1-
| fensive citizens and justifles the
repudiation of it's own pledged word
That accomplished, he added, "our de-
sire would be to establish new
Europe" in which good
New Eurone will and mutual toler-
Fnvisioned ance would eliminate
fear of aggression, in
which full and constant flow OF trace
would replace competition in arma-
ments.
To Berlin, Birmingham businessman
was talking idle prattle 80 new pan
European order of things is Utopian and
has no connection with realities
Quick to spot vulnerable utterance,
Mohandas K. Gandhi, head of powerful
All-India Congress, demanded that
| Chamberlain's promise to each European
country of "unfettered right to choose
it's own form of internal government"
be applied to give Englands rich Asiatlc
tributary immediate independence.
Making no reference to Indian agita-
ton, King George on Tuesday told Par
lament of his gratitude at empires ef-
forts in prosecuting war.
For co-ordinated purchasing and eco
nomic effort allies made London trade
capital, set up joint commercial ministry
To Premier Daladier French Chamber
of Deputies accorded powers to rule
France by decree for duration OF war,
heard him promise to match enemy at
any style of combat, heard him pledge
destruction of communism in France.
Trading book for book, Nazi govern
ment issued official publication in refu-
tation of British Blue Book charges that
Hitler's boys were responsible for war.
England wanted war;" Nazi edition as
serted, as climax to "treacherous, two
faced game" by which bad Britishers de-
ceived Poles and French.
Apparently under somewhat similar
| impression, Stain told Moscow mob on
Wednesday night that ruling circles OF
England and France rudely" discouraged
| German-Russian doves Of peace.