Evening star., 1939-11-30
The War in Europe DAY by Day |
Russian Invasion Of Finland May be stot of General War
II Allies Stund Firm Against Oppression Of Small Nations
Bv DEWITT MACKENZIE,

Associated Press Foreign Affairs Writer.
The Russian invasion of Finland
has in it the possible makings of the
general European war which the
world has been fearing.
1t is too soon to do more than
point to this possibility. We must
know the studied reaction of the
rest of Europe, especially England
and France, before we can get a
definite line on the situation.
Just a flash of that attitude al
ready has come from London where
Prime Minister Chamberlain de-
clared on the floor of the House OF
Commons that the British Govern
ment deeply regret" the invasion,
and added that the attack wasn't
justified by the issues involved.
Prior to the break the European
countries as a whole had signified,
either directly or indirectly, their
sympathy with Finland's position.
President Roosevelt some time ago
led procession which expressed the
fervent hope that the Russo-Finnish
quarrel would be settled peacefully.
Only last night the United States
again moved, this time to offer good
offices to the disputants.
Certainly there has been created
a situation very similar to that
which precipitated the Hitlerian
conflict.
Wider Than Polish Issue.
Violence is being used on another
small nation to bring it to terms
The Anglo French brotherhood has
announced that it is waging war to
end precisely such things. Only
the other day Mr. Chamberlain de-
clared that the war with Germany
is broader than the Polish issue
it is to put stop to armed aggres-
sion.
The Nazi-allied war began with
the assault on Poland. Since then
the allies have added as one of their
objectives the restoration of Czecho-
Slovakia. In allied political circles
the suggestion even has been made
that Austria be given a chance to
separate from the Reich if it wishes.
Can we then believe that the case
of Finland would fall in another
category? 1t is possible but not
likely.
Russia undoubtedly is gambling
that England and France are too
much occupied with Herr Hitler to
be able to intervene on Finland's
behalf. The Soviet also is gambling
that the other Scandinavian states.
which are sympathetic to Finland,
will not dare take their colleagues
side without the support of the
Anglo-French allies.
May Have Quick Ending.
Those may be good gsmbles-of
the moment. There can be little
question that the allies have gone
out of their way to avoid drawing
Russia into the war on Hitler's
side The Russians also have the
advantage of knowing that the al
lies couldn't get much material aid
to Finland quickly under present
III IllotdllSCo.
1t may be that the Russo Finnish
conflict will have a quick ending
without outside intervention Should
it prove that Russia goes no further
than to carry out punitive ex-
pedition and then withdraw from
Finland, the rest of Europe might
even pass that by.
1t is difficult, however, to see how
the matter could be allowed to rest
by England and France should Fin
lands sovereignty or territorial in
tegrity be interfered with. The
normal tone adopted by the allies
for the Hitlerian war surely would
call for ultimate settlement of the
Finnish case.
For the moment the Russian at
tack has put all Europe on razor
edge. The Balkans, already stand
ing at arms for fear of Russian or
German advances, are now doubly
tense.
The whole position is dangerous
in the extreme.