Evening star., 1939-12-10
Behind the Lines

Behind the Lines
Spreading of Europe's wars to the
volatile Balkans was once more threat-
ened last week as the Communist In
ternationale's brain trust for Soviet Rus
sia, broke out with a suggestion that
Rumania speed signing of mutual as
sistance" pact with Big Red, the bad
man of Moscow.
Intended to be persuasive was COMM
tern crack that English and French
reactionary bourgeoisie, supported by the
American financial oligarchy, are striv-
ing to involve the small countries in an
imperialistic war.
THE political and economic situa-
ton in Rumania makes it vitality neces-
sary for the people = to establish most
friendly relations with the Soviet Union"
Here it was reported that Bulgaria and
Hungary already have agreed with Soviet
on how to cut up wealthy but relatively
impotent Rumania, that deal was cooked
UP in Berlin under benign Nazi auspices.
But to greater extent than in Rus
sian sword-swallowing act In Baltic,
movement of aggression in Balkans
probably would bring several other major
powers rushing in. For instance, Brit
ain and France have
Threot to pledged Rumania their
p.:- military aid in event her
eS independence is threat
ened And Turkey, astride the vital
Dardanelles, is active ally of British and
French.
Italy, too, has no mind to see COM
. munism stretch its red hands into Bal
kans; on Thursday the Fascist Grand
Council declared ominously that "every-
thing which may happen in the Danube
Basin or the Balkans cannot help but
directly interest Italy" On Friday Mos
COW said Comintern declaration had
been loosely interpreted abroad.
But Italy's antipathy for Russia,
manifest not only by Balkan policy but
by actions of sympathy toward Finland,
still does not extend to Nazi Germany, 1t
was indicated at same Grand Council
meeting in declaration that ome-Berlin
relations remain on axis basis despite
"tendentious reports of foreign origin"
Meanwhile Turkey moved somewhat in
reverse by threatening to chase Nazi
Franz Won Papen, envoy to Ankara
home if he did not cease trying to stir
up RussTurk war.
To the British Russian aggression
against Finland is direct consequence
of German policy" Foreign Secretary
Lord Halifax told House of Lords ON
Tuesday. Describing invasion as "in-
excusable act of aggression" Halifax
claimed 1t grew out of bargain between
Hitler and Stalin-a free hand in Po-
land for one in Baltic. Frances Pre-
mier Daladier made similar plant later.
Worried at what may happen to them
after Finland's cup of sorrow is filled,
Scandinavian min
leooue to Hear listers met at Oslo
r;.I.y. d.. on Thursday, re-
solved to seek COM
fort from League of Nations Council,
meeting this weekend to consider Fin
lands plea for aid and possible ex-
pulsion of Russia from league. Sweden
took added precaution of calling up 40
600 more troops, bringing 100000 men
under arms as against normal standing
army Of 10000.
Although "in our times" Scandi-
navian countries have been people of
peace, Danes, Swedes and Norsemen can
point with pride to past glories on fields
of battle.
Sweden, most Immediately menaced
by current Baltic developments, spent
centuries in warfare with Russians,
most of it fought in what is now Fin
by Vikings of considerable military skill
and swelled in numbers py mercenaries
from other lands, ranged successfully into
Russian territory, occupied Moscow
near the end of 10th century.
Under Peter the Great, however, Rus
In 1903 Peters armies occupied land
along the Gulf of Finland, including
marshes where present city of Lenin-
grad stands; in 17O9 Swedes suffered
serious reverses at Poltava and at sea:
in 1921 Russian advance on Stockholm
1OrCeQ SWeQeS 10 IIldke ptdCe anu "
cede more Baltic areas.
For nearly another hundred years two
nations fought spasmodically, but mod
ern pattern was not cut until brief pact
between Napoleon and Alexander in
1907 called for aggression against Swedes.
Under this arrangement Russ armies
occupied present Finnish territory; peace
Of 1909 forced Stockholm government
to cede this area and Aaland Islands
10 Russia.
Strangely familiar today is Russian
explanation of 1so9-that seizure of ter
ritory was vital Ito remove the geograph-
ical enemy from the gates Of ST. Peters,
burg"
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