Evening star., 1939-10-13
This Changing World
Formation Of Nordic Bloc to Avoid Interference
With Nations independence Reported Under Study
BY CONSTANTINE BROWN.

BY CONSTANTINE BROWN.
A move is contemplated for the
formation Of Nordic bloc to pre-
vent any interference of the warning
nations with the independence of
Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark
and Holland.
The bloc will have two definite
aims: To keep strictly neutral in the
present European conflagration and
to lend each other effective mutual
assistance in the event the inde-
pendence Of either of these countries
is menaced by the fighting big fel-
lows. The governments of the five
true Nordic democracies rely heavily
on the assistance. moral and pos
sibly otherwise, of the United States.
Their aims are clear. They don't
want anything which belongs to
anybody else; they are small coun-
tries without "minorities." All they
desire is to keep their independence.
The governments of these states
believe that their aims are so clear
and logical that there can be no
doubt that the people of the United
States will feel strongly if the wolves
try to gobble up the lambs.
The Intervention of Ambassador
Steinhardt in Moscow to save Fin
land from being devoured by the
U. S. S. r. might have fruitful re-
suits.
There have been hints given in
Moscow by diplomats other than
American that any aggression on the
part OF the Russian armies against
Finland might have a more impor-
tant reaction in the United States
than Moscow expected.
Molotoff is reported to have been
told that the United States is the
champion of trade agreements and
business understanding between
neighbors, but the people of this
country do not believe in such
agreements at pistols point.
While it is true that the repre-
sentations made by the United
States Ambassador at Moscow did
not involve any threat, other neu-
trails in the Russian capital are
throwing hints that an attack
against Finland or other Scandi-
nayian countries might rouse the
people of the United States.
There are at present few experts
on American affairs in Moscow.
People like the former Charge DAFT
flares Skvirsky or the former Am
bassador Troyanovsky, who knew
the United States well, have been
purged. Even the nominal Ambas-
sador to this country Oumansky
is in bad repute with the powers of
the Kremlin. Hence most of the
Judgment on the possible attitude
Of America comes either from people
like Molotoff, who has a perfume
tory knowledge of what the psychol-
ogy Of this country is from reading
old reports, or from the foreign
office in Berlin. In spite of this,
the last reports from Moscow indi-
cate the Soviet government is paus-
ing and wondering what to do next
The Firms say frankly they are going
to resist military pressure; the
Swedes and the Norwegians tell
Moscow that If Finland is invaded
they might have to come to the
little republics rescue. America
has stepped out further than in
the case Of any other country which
has lost its independence to the
totalltarian states within the last
few years. The Russian troops are
still concentrated in full strength
on the Finnish border. Yet the Mos
COW government has begun to hesi-
tate for fear that Finland might
be the little bone to choke the giant
to death.
The White House intends to leave
unheeded the informal appeal from
Herr Hitler to intercede with Lon
don and Paris for a cessation of the
hostilities in the west.
1t Is indicated that President
Roosevelt appealed several times
with or without hint from the
allies-to Berlin for peace. The
Germans were given to understand
that Americas appeal was not
prompted by any selfish desire or
oy the desire to play Britain's and
Frances game. All this country
wanted was to see peace in Europe.
These appeals were scornfully re-
Jected by the German government.
Herr Hitler replied on several oc-
caSlons that Mr.. Roosevelt should
talk to London, Paris and Warsaw
ABOUT peace and not to Berlin.
High officials in WASHINGTON take |
the view that Hitler obtained by |
force OF arms everything he wanted |
IN the East. He conquered Poland |
and gave Russia most of Eastern
Europe. After having completed
this task, he wants America to step
IN and save Europe in general and
Germany in particular from the
catastrophe into which Germany
has plunged the whole continent. |
Reading between the lines of the |
Fuehrer's indirect appeal, the ad-
ministration sees only one purpose:
That this country accept by i'm
plication the partition Of Poland |