Evening star., 1940-03-12
British and French
Troops and Ships
Await Call
~ the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
PARIS, March 12.-Premier Dala-
dier told a cheering Chamber of
Deputies today that $4,000 French
and British troops. fully equipped
and with transports ready, are at
embarcation ports ready to go i'm
mediately to Finland if that country
publicly appeals for aid against So
Wet Russia.
The expeditionary force is concen-
trated at two ports on the English
Channel and Atlantic Coasts, the
Premier said, adding that he ex-
pected "a decisive answer" from
Finland today "in one sense or the
other"
Vaino Tanner, the Finnish for
eign minister, has promised reply
to the allied offers of aid after to-
days meeting of the Finnish Parlia-
ment. which is considering Russia's
terms of peace. the Premier asserted
Sending of the expedition depends
on Finland's choice between Russia S
'terms and an appeal. public and
direct. to the allies for aid, M
Daladier said.
Finnish Minister Warned.
Any Finnish appeal necessarily
must be public and direct to over
come official Scandinavian opposi-
\ ton to the passage Of foreign troops
over their soil. the Premier declared.
NJ Daladier disclosed that on
March he warned the Finnish
Minister. DR.. Harri Holma, that if
Finland did not appeal for allied
intervention, the allies under no cir
cumstances could assume RESPONSE
bility for Finland's territorial integ-
rity at the end of the war
NJ Daladier's words gave more
concrete form to the pledge made
yesterday by Prime Minister Cham
berlain that "all available resources"
would be sent the Firms if their
government requests assistance.
The French Premier did not dis
close what course the allies would
take if Finland made a public ap-
peal and still the Scandinavian ma
tions opposed passage of British
French troops over their soil.
When asked by what means and
what routes the allies could move 10
Fin]and's support, government
said:
THAT is secret of, the future"
Decision Made February 2.
M. Daladier said that the British
French decision to aid Finland in
case she called for help was reached
at the meeting of the Supreme War
Council February 2.
At the Premier's request the Depu-
ties postponed their scheduled in
terpellation on the Finnish situa-
ton until Tuesday, March 10.
THE government is at the dis
position of the Chamber" Mr.. Dala-
der said, "but the Finnish Parlia-
ment is assembled to discuss the
peace propositions that Russia wants
to impose on it's (the Finnish Par
liament's) country.
'It seems to me therefore wiser
If Parliament adjourns this debate" +"
Overriding one deputy's protest
that Finland had asked aid, M.
Daladier said:
There never has been direct
public appeal from Finland, neither
to France nor to England.
'Why is this Finnish appeal nee
essary? Because the Norwegian and
Swedish governments oppose with
all their force the passage of allied
troops across their territories"
M. Daladier said the French
troops were waiting with transports
ready in two ports on the English
Channel.
Expeditionary Force Ready.
On March 7, M. Daladier said, he
told DR.. Holma:
For several days we have awaited
only Finlands appeal in order to
60 to her aid with all the means at
our disposal
In his talk with DR.. Holma, M.
Daladier said. he added that he
was aware of Sweden's efforts to
bring peace in the northern war
and pointedly affirmed 'once more
that France was ready to go i'm
mediately to the aid of Finland,
that the expeditionary corps was
ready to leave, and concluded that
If Finland did not appeal for allied
intervention the allies under no
circumstances could assume respon-
sibility for Finland's territorial in
tegrity at the end of the war"
Mr.. Daladier continued:
M Tanner, the Finnish foreign
minister has promised a decisive
reply that will be addressed today
after the meeting of the Finnish
Parliament"
Previously Mr.. Daladier had de-
clared that France had given Fin
land more arms than all the other
nations of Europe since the out
break of the Northern War.
He repeated previously published
figures of French shipments to Fin
land, including ITS planes and 1876
pieces of artillery and other muni-
tions. His speech was greeted with
!. applause.