Evening star., 1939-10-22
Stain, Aspiring to Objectives
OF a Car, Confounds Berlin
Soviet Thrusts Aside Silent Partner Role in Axis
to Open a Real Window on
Baltic for Commerce
Bv Constantine Br0wn,

Germany gave free hand to Russia in
Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania, although
In the first two countries there was
large Germanic population. Finland, by
common agreement was to remain inde-
pendent even though economically she
was to be under Moscow's wing. The
Firms themselves knew about it and
agreed to sacrifice their economic inde-
pendence for the political freedom. Ber-
lin, like the other world capitals, was
astonished when Stain sent word to the
Finnish foreign minister that he should
come to Moscow and sign on the dotted
line like the rest of the Baltic ministers.
Scandinavian states that Stain was
after bigger game than little Finland.
The Russian dictator is trying to widen
the window Peter the Great established
in the Gulf of Finland His real inten-
ton is to spread to Norway where he can
have free access to the Atlantic. So
long as Imperial Russia existed the
Scandinavians did not worry about a
Russian invasion. They were the i'm
mediate neighbors of the colossus Of the
North, but they were satisfied that
neither Great Gritain nor Germany
would permit the Russian government to
spread toward the Atlantic through
Scandinavia
When the czarist government disap-
peared the scandinavians were as inter-
ested in the formation of really
independent Finland as the Firms them
selves. They did not want dynamic
Communist Russia to be their immedi-
ate neighbor.
Hence, it was not surprising when
President Roosevelt was told last week
in Washington by the representatives Of
the Scandinavian kingdoms that any
attack of the Russian armies on Finland
would be regarded by Sweden and Nor
way as a direct threat to their inde-
pendence and both countries would sup
port the Finnish Republic with all their
armed forces.
The war in Europe threatened to
spread to unexpected spheres, and that
was what determined Mr.. Roosevelt to
make an appeal to the President of the
Soviet Union.
Action Perturbs Hitler.
Hitler is reported to have been equally
perturbed by the independent attitude of
his Eastern associate. At the present
time he does not much care whether
Russia has an outlet to the open seas.
But he sees in a Russo-Scandinavian
war dangers which he had not con-
sidered in the past. And the chief dan
ger of all was the possibility OF an
American active Intervention in favor
of the Scandinavian states.
Despite the anti-German feeling which
he knows exists in this country, the
Fuehrer does not relish the prospect of
an active participation by this country
In the European mess. He is not par
ticularly concerned whether or not we
are going to sell war material to the
British and French; he believes the eff
cheney of his subs will prevent large
portion of the purchased stuff from
reaching It's destinations. But he Is
deeply concerned lest the purpose of
this war should be changed, which would
be definitely the case in the event of
active Intervention of the United States.
His experts in the foreign Office advise
him that one thing that might change
the isolationist temper of the people of
this country would be an aggression
against the Nordic states on the part of
any European power. Finland has a
well-constructed halo of honesty and in
tegrity because it has paid its debts
when the other, more powerful, nations
refused to do so. The Swedes and the
Norwegians are known as peace-loving
people, and their nationals have pro-
duced many of the best citizens Of this
country. Neither of these nations has
fought war for about $50 years. They
are known to want to live in peace within
their own small territories. An attack
on the part of Communist Russia might
send the people of the United States into
passionate frenzy, and the plans Of
Germany for q nice war mainly against
British would be fouled by Stains uni
lateral action.
Germany Seeks Rescue.
Germany is more, active today in Mos
COW to save Finland than any other
country in the world, It is felt that
the success Of the present warfare de-
pends to great extent on whether the
German diplomats can induce the Rus
sian dictator to at least delay for time
his plans regarding Finland and the
other Scandinavian states. Stain takes
no orders from Berlin-.this is clear. But
Berlin hopes to be able to persuade the
Kremlln ruler as to the wisdom Of tax
ing things one at a time.
1t is believed here that Stain is not
averse to having the whole world in a
war. Lenin and Trotsky were following
romantic policy according to the lights
of Stain. He is realist. Communism
and world revolution cannot be propa-
gated by propaganda and local disturb
ances in world where capitalism is
sGill deeply entrenched. World revolu-
tions demand blood baths in which every
nation in the world must be dipped. The
possibility Of crushing Britain and France
might serve the purpose Of Eitler,s ueo-
iy,oreria Iisno