Evening star., 1939-12-10
Spotlight Baltic and Balkans Fourteenth Week Of War

Friday December Is. When Congress
convenes Chief Executive explained fur
ther, he will recommend legislative au-
thorization for expenditure of this sum
in some manner directly beneficial to
beleaguered Finnish people.
Twice during week he conferred with
Chairman Norman H. Davis Of Red
Cross over extension Of aid to Firms,
was told that organization already had
arranged for airplane load Of medical
supplies to fly from London to Helsinh,
that shipload Of additional supplies al
ready was in New York waiting trans
portation to Baltic, and that 3,700 chap
ters of Red Cross in America had been
authorized to accept contributions for
Finnish relief.
On Wednesday Federal Loan Admin
istrator Jesse H. Jones conferred with
Mr. Roosevelt on question of financing
shipment of surplus ommodities-corn,
ctotton, wheat, etc.-to Finland.
And as sorrowing little Baltic nation
marked 22nd anniversary of its inde-
pendence, President Roosevelt cabled to
it's government his earnest hope that
these tragic days may not be long in
giving way to happier era"
American mercy toward Finland was
not confined by any means to actions of
this Government.
Hoover Seeks Taking leadership
Funds for Firms outside Washing
ton, Former Pres
ident Hoover, whose administration OF
relief in Belgium was brilliant admins
trative achievement, co-ordinated drive
for funds expected to bring millions to
aid of civil population of Finland.
Companion development to wide SYM
pathy for Finland has been frequently
recurring demand that we sever diplo-
matte relations with Soviet Russia, ag-
gressor.
While leaving clear loophole for such
action in future if SO decided, admins
tration spokesmen thus far have labored
argument that we may be greater force
for peace and better able to help selves
and rest of world if normal international
relations are maintained. Furthermore,
one official hinted darkly. certain mys-
terious efforts to settle Finnish Russian
dispute might be upset by hasty action
on our part
AS for President Roosevelt, he be-
lieves our foreign policy must be pretty
good because most criticism of it comes
from Russia, Germany. Republicans and
William Randolph Hearst.
American-Soviet relations have been
checkered over past % years.
With promptness which later proved
embarrassing United States recognized
Kerensky govern
U.S.-Soviet ment in early 1917.
Ties Strained continued such
recognition until
1922 despite replacement of Kerensky
regime in November, 1917, by Commu-
mist government.
Through administrations of Wilson,
Coolidge and Hoover, State Department
continued to play official ostrich toward
existence of Soviet. BY 1928, however,
our attitude was less stiff-necked toward
trade relations with pariah nation.
And in 1888, Roosevelt administration
rendered recognition to Moscow govern
ment on basis of agreement that Ameri-
cans in Russia would be allowed COM
plete religious freedom, that pending
claims would be negotiated and that
there would be no interference from
Moscow In American affairs. Latter
provision was at issue in 1885 when
order of Comintern for intensified propa-
ganda in United States drew protest
from here Subsequent curt Moscow
denial of responsibility for Comintern
policies prompted Secretary Hull to
term Russian answer sophistry.
Differences between Moscow and
Washington have cropped up OCCASION
ally in years since, heading up to pro-
nouncements of President Roosevelt on
Baltic dispute in recent weeks.
Bouncing Joe Kennedy, who has been
more things and made more money in
fewer years than most Americans, on
Wednesday came home from his job as
United States Am
Kennedy bassador to Great
Comes Home Britain. His rea-
sons for coming
were to spend Christmas holidays with
his family and to discuss the darkness
over Europe with officials in Washington.
One of first matters taken up on ar
rival here was that of helping devise
ways and means to put American mer-
chant marine back on full-time job. Best
prospect in sight, President said after
seeing Kennedy, seems to be that Of
substituting American ships for bellig-
erent merchantmen in services outside Of
combat zones.
Restrictions of our neutrality law
forced some 88 American vessels out of
Ordinary commercial operations. OF this
number about 18 may continue normal
service in part, another score already
have been transferred to new occupa-
tions, but rest face idleness and dete-
rioration if no new demand is created.
Many Of this latter group may be sold or
chartered, some to such neutral registries
as Greek, Swiss, Hungarian and others
hitherto virtually unknown on seas.
All of official Washington's concern
about ships was not confined to mer-
chantmen-the Navy Department an
nounced it would cost $230854 to correct
design defects in So new destroyers.
It was announced that Admiral James
o. Richardson would become commander
in chief of the American Fleet on Jan.
uary 6.