Evening star., 1940-01-18
Northern Alliance
Movement GROWING
Among Swedes
Defense League Creation
Urged in Stockholm by
Socialist Leader
~ the Associated Press.

~ the Associated Press.
STOCKHOLM, Jan. 18.-Sweden's
outstanding Socialist leader. Frederik
strom, today urged creation Of q
northern defense league" as q
movement gained ground for closer
Scandinavian military collaboration
in the face Of the Russian Finnish
war.
Tremendous discussion Of such
collaboration was aroused In Sweden
by former Foreign Minister Richard
Sanders speech in the Riksdag
(ParliamenD pleading for adoption
Of such a policy.
During stormy budget debate In
Parliament last night exponents Of
strict neutrality found themselves
hard-pressed following Sanders ap-
peal. ID.
Especial Importance was attached
to statement published by Strom
declaring Finland would have
escaped war If the Northern coun-
tries earlier had established a
Northern Countries Defense League.
Such a league would have been
the surest guarantee for our peace
and neutrality. Perhaps 1t is not
yet too late to fashion such league.
Every day is costly now"
Charges Socialists Blundered.
Strom said he believed the So
cialists had blundered in previously
opposing extensive military pre-
paredness.
The only thing we can do now is
to utilize all our strength, as hur-
riedly as possible In building up
strong army, navy and air force, u
he said, supporting the position
taken by Sander.
Last weeks events have con-
vinced me-" said Sander, that
the collaboration of the northern
countries should not be limited to
the Aland islands fortification)
question, but should also embrace
military cooperation"
Sanders retirement from the
Swedish cabinet December 13 was
reported partly due to differences
over his stand that the then un-
fortified Alands should be fortified.
Finland is reported to have fortified
them to help keep open commune
cations with Sweden during the
Finnish Soviet Russian conflict.
The islands guard the entrance to
the Gulf of Bothnia.
Northern Pact Still Possible.
'FWhen asked why, while was in
Office, I did not propose a northern
military alliance" declared Sander,
my answer is that conditions had
not ripened."
In reply, Premier Per Albin Hans
son said, The idea of northern col
laboration is by no means ship
wrecked"
Sander was applauded by parlia-
mentary colleagues when he criti-
cized Sweden's policy OF neutrality
in the Finnish war, and expressed
the fear that Russia might not halt
at the Swedish frontier if Finland
were conquered.
Nobody wants war with the
Soviet Union, but nobody knows if
the victorious Bolshevik army would
halt at the Swedish Finnish border"
he asserted.
Premier Hanson declared firmly
that Sweden was using her own
free judgment as to what best serves
the northern countries and Fin
lands cause"
Not Exposed to Threats.
1--WE have been exposed neither
to pressure of the Western powers
nor to German threats and warn
ings," he added.
Irresponsible governments know we
will refuse any proposal of war
participation and that we intend
with all the means at our disposal
to meet any attempt to violate our
neutrality.
1T has been opined in some
quarters abroad and at home that
we are obliged to stand at Fin
lands side in the present fight.
This opinion is based on sentiment,
but understandable also is the fact
that such opinion could not become
the deciding factor for those who in
responsible positions must make de-
cisions for this country.