Evening star., 1939-10-12
Help for FinIond

Help for Finland
Unquestionably wave of Satisfac-
ton will spread across the United
States over the report that negotia-
tions are pending among this country
and Sweden, Norway and Denmark,
looking to some form of diplomatic
aid to Finland in the grave crisis
forced upon her by Russia's drive for
domination Of the Baltic. No official
disclosure is forthcoming as to the
exact nature of proposed representa-
tions to Russia. Waldemar Bostrom,
Sweden's veteran Minister at WASH
ington, conferred with the President
yesterday and Hjalmar Procope, the
Finnish envoy, later visited General
Watson, presidential secretary.
There is no concealment in official
quarters that the fate of Finland
was the subject of these White House
conversations, though apparently no
formal approach, in consequence Of
them, has so far been made to Mos
cow, or, possibly, even yet been de-
cided upon. Concern over Finland's
plight is deep and sympathetic in
Washington, because of the splendid
manifestation of national honor by
Europe's "farthest north" little coun-
try in connection with recognition
Of her World War debt obligations
to the United States. Any curtail-
nent of Finland's independence
would be regarded here as deplor-
able blow to the democratic way of
life, of which the land of Sibelius and
Nurmi is so noteworthy an exemplar.
On their part, Sweden, Norway
and Denmark are keenly alive to the
peril Of permitting Communism to
cast its blighting shadow over a
corner of Europe which has con-
trived, to date, to remain a firm
bulwark against the spread of Stalin-
ism. 1t is wholly comprehensive
that the fate of the smaller Baltic
states during the past month of
Nazi-C Communist double-dealing and
double-crossing should impel the
neutral governments Of Stockholm,
Oslo and Copenhagen to look upon
their own sovereign existence as
menaced, especially as the Soviet
bear is about to extend his tracks
to Finland. Nor is it unreasonable
that the Scandinavian nations should
look to us, another neutral state, to
Join them in warding of, by any
means available short of war, the
dark fate that portends for their
Finnish neighbor.
Meantime it is evident that Stain
will have no compliant, inundated
Estonia, Latvia or Lithuania to deal
with if his next aim is the subjuga-
ton Of Finland. The Firms are pre-
pairing to take things standing up,
not lying down, If Soviet Russia ven
lures to impose upon them condi-
tions that would doom their inde-
pendence and reduce them to Red
vassalage.
The Helsinki government has dis
patched an envoy to Moscow, but he
has no instructions to sign on the
dotted line. On the contrary and in
token of Finnish resolution to resist
unacceptable demands certain semi
military measures have been taken.
Foreign Minister Erkko urges that,
while there Is no immediate danger,
Finland cannot blind herself to what
Is happening in the Baltic and is
ready to reject dictation.
To imagine that Finland, with un-
der 100000 inhabitants and an
army of 125,0O0, is capable of resist
ing Russia, with population of 49,
100000 and an army of 100000, is
unthinkable. But it is equally un-
thinkable that the Firms would fight
alone, If they venture to challenge
stalin's steam roller.
It is the U. S. S. RS reputed de-
mands on Finland which suggest
that Sweden in particular might, in
self-interest, have to come to the
Films aid. In addition to islands in
the Gulf of Finland, the Soviet has
its eye on the highly strategic
Alands, which lie midway between
Finland and Sweden in the Gulf of
Bothnia. If the Soviet were able to
set up naval bases there and link
them with similar concessions just
wrung from Estonia and Latvia, Rus
sia would obtain almost impregnable
control Of the sea which, before Hit
Ter began yielding to Stain, rated as
q German lake.
Finland wants no Communist infil-
tration of its sturdy democratic soil.
She wrenched herself loose from Rus
sia as soon as the Bolsheviks over
threw the czardom. The Swedes
know that once Moscow's authority
Is implanted on the Scandinavian
peninsula, Of which Finland is an
extension, the seeds Of Communism
would be dangerously sown in that
hardy democratic corner Of the