Evening star., 1940-01-13
Scandinavian Front
May Grow Out Of
Russo-Finnish War
Question Whether Reich
Comes to Assistance
Of Her Ally
BY WALTER DURANTY.

RIGA, Latvia, Jan. 13 (N.A.N.A.-
BY Radio).-Will Scandinavia be-
come the "Dardanelles" of this war?
This Is a question that now preoc-
cupies the Baltic states, Latvia,
Estonia and Lithuania.
The question seems, for the mo-
ment at least, as important as the
other question that is so vital to the
Battles: What are the real rela-
tions between Germany and Soviet
Russia? In a sense, both questions
are one and the same.
BY "Dardanelles" I mean exten-
sion Of the war into what might
appear to be a senseless deal, but
might also-as indicated in the case
OF that ill-fated allied Dardanelles
expedition in the World War-have
been decisive. Then, as now, it was
a controversy as to whether the war
would be won or lost OH the west
ern front or whether a great diver
sion might not have so weakened the
enemy-in both cases Germany-.as
to bring ultimate victory more easily.
Russia Opened New Front.
Now Germany's partner" Soviet
Russia, has opened up a new
front in Finland. In the first
weeks of the war a French comic
review published a cartoon show
ing Gen. Gamelin (allied generalis-
simo) dressed as Diogenes, holding
a lantern, with the caption: The
General in Search of a New Front"
1t was all too true. There was
no such front for Gamelin to find
unless Belgian or Swiss or italian
neutrality was violated.
One has heard talk, of course, Of
Turkish and of allied troop con-
centrations in the Middle East and
tnat they planned to move into the
Balkans-and perhaps against the
Russian oil fields. But none of these
plans sounded good, until the Rus
slams attacked Finland-unsuccess
fully-and the Scandinavian peo-
Piles awakened from their long
dream of peace and remembered
their warlike past.
You must realize, of course, that
this is a war of miscalculation, and
that nobody really wanted it, least
OF all the two aggreSsors. The Ger
mans thought they would get
Danzig without a war and the Rus
siars were fully confident chat Fin
land would be "pushover." Russia
proceeded to push over" Finland
and found it had caught an allied
bull by the tail. and all the Russians
got was bad toss by the Finnish
bull. plus the scorn and spite of the
whole world and the arousing of
Scandinavia.
Alternatives for Russia.
AS matters stand today. it looks
to Baltic "inSiders'-I wish I could
give you their names and directly
what they say, but that is obviously
impossible-that the Russians must
either abandon the war against Fin
land, with whatever loss of prestige
that may involve, or persuade the
Germans to bring such pressure on
Scandinavia in general, and Sweden
In particular, as to prevent the Finns;
from getting enough outside help to
Withstand the sheer dead weight of
many millions which Russia might
finally send. L.
In the highly uncertain relation
ship between Germany and Soviet
Russia-from which, six weeks ago.
anyone would have said that Russia
got the benefit and Germany got
nothing but Soviet promises-it is
now clear that there has come a
definite change. 1t is the Russians
who are now asking favors and Ger
many seems to be responding by
stopping the transit through the
Reich of italian planes which were
sent to Finland, and by harsh and
continuous campaign of the Official
press and radio against Swedish
infringements of neutrality in the
Russo-Finnish conflict"
In the allies do not persist in
helping Finland, Germany will
doubtless demand some recompense
from Russia and will make Premier
Molotoff rather glum when he next
goes to Berlin.
But suppose that public feeling in
Sweden against Russia increases and
overrides the slow course of the gov
ernment? Or that the allies decide
to take a hand, not to mention
American sympathy for Finland,
which may be expressed in other
forms than those of Red Cross aid
and food supplies?
Germany Would Face 2 Fronts.
Will Germany in that case sup
port its ally? If Germany can
conquer South Sweden, this would
scarcely facilitate the transport of
Swedish iron ore to Germany. for
by so doing Germany would create
not only a 'Dardanelles, but also
a war on two fronts, whereas the
whole purpose of the German deal
with Russia was to avoid a two
front war. Not to mention the
effect on the neutrals, especially
the United States, of a German
assault to help Russia, upon the
Scandinavians, who have Justly
earned the title of being the most
peaceful and unaggressive and
civilized people in Europe.
Moreover, Italy, Germanys axis
ally, has told the Hungarians that
it would aid them against any Rus
sian attack. In the face of that
declaration, must Germany attack
Scandinavia to help this Soviet
struggle for life against British
domination?"
Nevertheless, there are grave fears
here that Germany may attack
Scandinavia, if for no other reason
than to force Soviet Russia from
the position of a selfish, untrust-
worthy partner to that of an ally
For all the Baltic states
this is a rather dreadful prospect
because it is hard for these small |
countries to choose between the fry
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