Evening star., 1939-10-14

loans to governments which have
defaulted on their war debts would
not apply, because Finland has met
her payments on war debt punctuai-
ly ever since the funding agreement
was consummated.
The moral support of the United
States is important to Finland. and
there are evidences that the Ameri-
can Minister to Moscow, Laurence
Steinhardt, not only conveyed
formal message, but undoubtedly
supplemented it with his own eX-
pressions of concern as to the fu-
ture independence of Finland.
Ovation for Envoy.
Here in the national capital the
frlendliest feeling for Finland has
been noted for years, but within the
last "a hours a manifesto ton of
sympathy occurred which is we'll
worth recording. The Finnish Min
lister to the United States was pres
ent at luncheon at the National
Press Club given in honor of H r.
Baukhage, the N. B. C. radio COM
mentator who just returned from
Germany and France The room
was jammed, the crowd being even
larger than that which attended the
speech of Anthony Eden in the same
room few months ago. 1t was
planned merely to introduce guests
at the head table and no announce
ment was made that the Finnish
Minister would be present. When
he was called upon he was given
an ovation. The newspapermen and
their guests rose to their feet and
applauded and cheered. 1t was. one
of the most remarkable demonstra-
tions in the Press Club within the
memory of members. The Finnish
Minister spoke off the record for
few minutes expressing his apprecia-
ton
Incidents like this indicate that
perhaps American sentiment was
very eloquently transmitted by the
formal message presented by Min
lister Steinhardt in Moscow Had it
been any other country, it is possible
that in Congress might have been
heard some murmurs, but Soviet
Russia may rest assured that her
cause will not in any way be helped
In America if she commits an act of
aggression against Finland.
The treatment of Finland, more
over, may become far more impor-
tant in the future than appears on
manifested by Norway, Sweden and
Denmark over the maintenance by
Finland of her sovereignty is bound
to be reflected in Scandinavian cir
Cles in the United States. Should
the Baltic countries find themselves
drawn somehow into the vortex of
war, there are millions of Scandi-
navians in America who will begin
to have a livelier interest in the en-
barge repeal controversy than has
up to now been apparent.
No Word From Germany.
The United States Government
would move again if the Scandi-
navian countries found it desirable
to approach Russia once more, and
1t may well be that if mediation of
differences is possible through the
medium of King Gustav of Sweden,
the strongest support will be given
such step by American officials.
Meanwhile no word has come
from the German government that
1t wishes the United States to offer
its services as a peacemaker al
though Berlin press dispatches con-
tinuously hint that neutrals should
take the initiative and mention
America as neutral of powerful
voice.
If Herr Hitler expected President
Roosevelt to interfere and force
cessation of hostilities, such an ex-
pectation has already proved fruit
less. But if Germany is so an
Xious for neutral mediation, it still is
a mystery why the German Foreign
Office does not communicate that
fact to the American Embassy in
Berlin. Efforts to bring about an
armistice would then begin imme-
diately.