Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1940-03-14

confronted with terrible alterna-
tive: Either a Russo-Finnish peace,
or a spreading war!
Help for the Firms.
| 1t was stated that if the Moscow
conference broke down, and if Fin
land appealed to England and France
for help, the British and the French
governments would send an expedi-
tionary force-and that would have
to march through the neutral terri
tory of Norway and Sweden.
In Oslo and Stockholm it had al
ready been said that such passing of
foreign belligerent troops would be
in violation of the neutrality regula-
tons of the two countries, and would
not be tolerated But the two north
ern governments remained firm, and
finally in London it was said that
troops would march-if Finland so
requested-without regard to Scandi-
navian neutrality.
The further consequence of such an
action was likely to be-and the press
in Berlin gave pretty broad hints to
that effect-that Norway and Swe-
den would be considered affiliated
with Great Britain and France against
Russia, and since Germany is closer
to Russia than ever before, it would
be considered an act of hostility
in German eyes, too.
That might mean that German
troops would force their way to
Norway and Sweden through the
equally neutral territory of Den
mark-in spite of the fact that
since last May a nOn-aggressiOn
treaty exists between Germany
and Denmark. All dispatches
from Copenhagen limited that that
very thing might happen, and
also indicated that the Danes
were seriously worried.
i In fact, that fear of Germany ally
ing itself militarily with Russia has
been the principal factor in prevent
ing Sweden and Norway from Of
ficially going to the aid of the Firms
although the two countries-and Den
mark, too-have helped them in ever
so many other ways, unofficially.
i On the Go.
> In other WayS-more or less re-
lated to the Russo-Finnish situation
there was great deal of diplomatic
activity. 1t was said, for instance,
that Lawrence A. Steinhardt, United
States ambassador to Russia, had
acted as intermediary between Fin
land and Russia, and although the
Washington government Immediately
denied that Mr.. Lawrence had acted
in his official capacity, it was not
denied that he might have acted I'M
officially. A story to the effect that
the peace conference was taking
place in the building of the American
embassy at Moscow lent color to that
possibility.
From Berlin went the German for
eign minister, Joachim Won Ribben-
trop, to Rome where he had CONVEX
sations with Prime Minister Musso-
lini Foreign Minister Ciano and
Pope Plus XII; they were assumed
to have a bearing on the develop
ments in Moscow, since it was known
that both Hitler and Mussolini, for
reasons and purposes of their own,
were deeply interested in stopping
the war between Finland and Russia.
To Berlin and Rome went also the
former president of Finland, Pehr
Einar Svinhufvud, and at the same
time high Finnish and German Off
Gals foregathered at Stockholm.
Americans Journey.
On the background of all these de-
velopments story went out over
the wires that President Roosevelt
was planning a sensational move to
end both the Russo-Finnish war and
the war between Germany and Great
Britain-France, but at the moment
of writing nothing further has been
said about this.
Sumner Welles, American under
secretary of state, a week ago arrived
in Paris where he had conferences
with President Albert Lebrun, Pre-
mier Edouard Daladier and other
high French government officials. 1t
was emphasized that he was not try
ing to establish peace, but that he
had been sent to Europe for the pur-
pose of finding out on what eco
nomic basis coming peace might be
made secure and enduring He had
already been in Rome and Berlin
but had published no report of his
conversations with Mussolini and
Hitler.
/ On to London.
On Sunday Sumner Welles arrived
in London, and here on Monday he
was presented to King George and
had talks with Prime Minister Cham
berlain and the foreign secretary,