Evening star., 1939-12-10

"Sons of nation Who bled
pirate caption for this picture OF FIJI
OF all the acts of international brig
andage that have occurred. in recent
years, none has so shocked public opin-
ion in this country as the attack Of the
Soviet Union on Finland. small, COM
comparatively defenseless nation set
upon by one of the great armed powers.
The reasons for the mounting tide OF
indignation are fairly obvious. In seiz-
ing Austria the Nazis had the pretext of
commonalty of race. The pretext Of
racial minority existed similarly with re-
spect to Czecho- -Slovakia. or at any
rate it served as f1imsy excuse until
last March when the Czech and Slovak-
ian provinces were openly seized. Like
wise in Poland there was minority
issue in the border provinces growing
out of the Versailles treaty.
Russia, in invading Finland, could
argue no such sham motive. There was
no minority question that could even
be trumped up for the occasion. If the
present attempt to destroy independent.
republican Finland has any parallel in
the terrible 30s it may be compared with
Fascist Italy's attack on Ethiopia. Even
with respect to Ethiopia, however. Italy
could argue that her invasion was in the
pattern of 18th century imperialism, ex-
plotting a defenseless people under the
guise of extending culture" and civil
ization" to them.
Finland has achieved not only higher
cultural level than Soviet Russia, but
also a far higher standard for the mass
of the people. The Firms in the 20 years
following their devastating war for in
dependence have achieved real national
integration. Unlike the Poles, they were
prepared to defend nation in which
all classes had share in the national
life. And that may be why the Russian
colossus has up to this point made slow
progress in conquering the tiny neighbor.
Attack Comes as Shock.
With Americas shock went surprise
that this should finally have happened.
Despite the threats issuing from the
Soviet Union it was believed. and par
ticularly by Soviet defenders in this
country. that some settlement would be
reached short of resort to armed force.
To the Firms and their Scandinavian
neighbors, what has happened has been
no surprise Nor was the Soviet-Nazl
pact of August q an entirely unexpected
development in Northern Europe. For
at least three years in Scandinavia the
threat of such an understanding has
been discussed as the most dreaded
eventuality that could come about.
1t has been clearly recognized that the
independence and integrity of the Scan
dinavian states would be in grave danger
on the day that Russia and Germany
should reach working agreement. To-
day Norway and Sweden are menaced
only slightly less than Finland, the
major difference being that actual de-
mands have not yet been made on the
two former states. Whether or not Won
Ribbentrop and the Russian dictator
agreed on definite spheres of control in
the states lying around the Baltic when
they struck their bargain in the Kremlin,
the high civilization of the Scandinavian
peninsula has nevertheless come under
the Hitler-Stalin shadow.
In view of fantastic statements coming
from the Kremlin and appearing in the
controlled Soviet press, it is important to
look at the background of the relation
ship between the Scandinavian states
and Soviet Russia. It will explain why
the Soviet-Nazi pact did not come as a
major surprise to thoughtful observers
in Scandinavia.
When was last in Stockholm, a little
more than two years ago, I was discuss
ing Soviet foreign policy with one of the
keen younger leaders of the Labor Party
that has for seven years governed
Sweden. He said at that time: "The
thing we really dread and fear here in
Scandinavia is an agreement between
Russia and Germany. It may sound i'm
possible to you in America in the light of
their opposed propaganda, but we do not
think it impossible. In dictator controlled
countries it is very easy to throw the
propaganda machine In reverse"
Had an Absurd Sound.
1t did sound absurd and impossible at
that time. Among many political
thinkers, however, not only in Sweden
but in the other Scandinavian countries
as well, there was realistic awareness
Of the grave threat that the future held.
For centuries In the north Of Europe
the fearsome enemy has been Russia.
Morse mothers frightened bad children
with the threat that . bearded Russian
would come to carry them OF. In large
part this went back to the wars that the