Evening star., 1939-11-01
By CONSTANTINE BROWN.

in responsible administration
quarters Premier Foreign Commis-
sar Molotoff's speech yesterday is
considered as q precursory to Rus
sian aggression against Finland.
Nobody In oficial quarters today
bothered about the unbelievable In
accuracies of the Russian diplomat
in regard to Cuba. Molotod is q
dilettante in international affairs
and is too busy walking the tight
rope to bother about affairs In the
far-on Western Hemisphere.
But in the slap the Russian COM
missar took at the American Gov
ernment and President Roosevelt
he also served q warning to the
Nordic states that Russia's determi-
nation to reach the Atlantic by way
Of Finland and Scandinavia has not
changed.
In military quarters it Is believed
the western front will remain rela-
lively quiet until next spring. But
since neither Germany nor Russia
can adopt . static attitude in the
present confiagration, 1t Is more
than likely that their activities will
extend toward the weaker countries
which cannot resist the onslaught of
the millions Of men and the large
quantities Of modern war equipment
the new allies have.
Unless there is strong outside in
tervention, the Firms and the Scan
dinavians will be able to offer q
determined, but not very long re-
sistance to the masses the Rus
slams can throw against them. The
winters In Northern Russia and In
the Scandinavian states are severe,
but they are generally clear and
make possible large-scale air opera
tions. The ground is frozen and
permits movements Of troops II they
are properly equipped for q cam
paign In the Arctic. Because Of
these considerations, it is believed
in well-informed military quarters
that unless Bome outside interven-
ton makes Itself strongly felt. the
fnns viii be faced soon with q
Russian ultimatum, which, If re-
jectNd, viii be followed by Q d.
rect Nattack.
There is considerable concern
over Turkey, too. Molotoff did not
leave that country out. in his speech,
and ominously said that he did
not know whether Turkey would
suffer the consequences of enter
ing the war orbit by signing up with
the British and the French.
In the same military quarters it
is believed that Turkey is vulnerable
mostly from Europe. II the Rus
slams want to get to Constantinople
their centuries-old ambition
they must attack Thrace and reach
the Bosphorus through the old
Tchataldja lines.
This brings Rumania into their
path. The question Of the recovery
of Bessarabia Is not considered In
Moscow Is sufnciently important to
justify an attack on that country.
But Rumania is the best corridor
for Russian troops to get to Bull
garia and thence to Constantinople.
It has been thus for centuries.
According to latest reports from
Bucharest, King Carol Is doing the
utmost to prevent an attack on his
country. He is trying to play Ger
man interests against Russian in the
hope of creating friction between
the two allies.
The Germans ct present are ex-
ercising heavy pressure on the
Bucharest government to obtain a
larger quantity Of gasoline and oil.
The main oil fields and refineries
are in the hands Of British, French
and American companies for ex-
ploitation and they have decided to
restrict the output. The Germans