The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1940-03-28
Economic i. d.
eMhA1AA


the shortlived but terribly destructive
Finnish War. So far as the
world of the immediate present is con.
lcerned, its consequences appear to be
ominous and far-reaching. Finland
has been reduced to virtual dependence
upon Soviet Russia. She has beer
forced to cede to the U. S. S. r. hel
second largest city, her major indus.
trial area, important Notifications, anC
she has consented to the construction
Iof Russian-owned railway which
when completed, will practically bisect
what territory she has left. She is
faced with tremendously difficult
task in seeking to find new homes and
work for those of her people who are
leaving the areas given to the Bear
That Walks Like A Man.
1t is Understandable that the late
speeches of Finnish statesmen have
been, by intimation at least, bitter in
tone when England and France have
been mentioned. In England consid-
|erable revolt has arisen against the
Chamberlain government on the part
|of Britons who feel that immediate
land effective aid should have been sent
to the Firms. Lay opinion in this
country largely backs that point of
view. On the other hand, some of the
military experts are not so certain
they feel that the Allies would have
faced an almost insoluble problem of
transport and supply had they at
tempted to send Finland enough troops
and equipment to turn the tide. 1t is
believed certain that Germany, with
her geographical advantage, would
have been there first, and that the
Allied adventure might have ended in
unmitigated disaster.
However, there's no use in discuss
ing what might have been. And the
big question of the moment is, Who
won the Russo-Finnish war? 1t is OBJ
vious that Russia won a considerable
ENTHUSIASTICALLY speaking, she is
back in the same commanding position
she held in the days of Peter the
Great. No so obvious, but perhaps
more important, is the apparent fact
that Germany also won great vic
tory. 1t is well known that German
pressure was largely responsible for
ending the war. AS Major George
Fielding Eliot writes, the terms of the
peace treaty mean CLOSING the north
ern flank to Allied efforts, assuring
the Swedish iron supplies, releasin,~
Russia from an awkard position, rein,
forcing thereby the German-Russian
situation in the Balkans and the Black
Sea- All Of this is of the utmost aid
to the Nazis, who look to peaceful
Russia as source Of vital supplies to
feed Hitler's war machine, and who
are ambitious to extend their prestige,
influence and power in Central and
Northern Europe
Curiously enough, there is one
school which thinks that the settle
ment of the Finnish war on terms fav-
orable to the dictators may improve
the chances for peace. Their reason
ing runs thus: Britain and France,
seeing that matters are not going so
well as hoped, may relax their peace
terms; Germany's undernourished pop
ulation is eager for peacc-therefor
the stage may be set for negotiations
which will really get results. On top
of that, the known pressure of Mr.
Roosevelt, Mussolini and the Pope in
favor of peace may prove a powerful
factor in banishing Mars from Europe
However, recent English polls show
that the people of the Isles arc over
whelmingly opposed to a negotiated
peace at this time.
One fact is highly significant: The
great and incredibly bloody action
that was scheduled to start early in
March when Europe thawed, has not
transprcd. German planes fly over
London and British and French planes
fly over BerIin-but none drops
bomb. Neither side seems willing to
take the initiative in unleaShing the
dogs Of war in full cry. And that,
the observers think, is a hopeful sign,
While Europe passively fights a
stalemated war, the belligerents are
active on the political front in this
country.
The recent primaries have proven
nothing that was not already known.
Mr.. Roosevelt can in all probability
get the Democratic nomination if he
wants it. Yet more and more comes
from informed Washington sources to
indicate that he does not plan to run
again. That seems to be in the laps
of the god..
If Mr.. Roosevelt is not going to be
a candidate, it appears that the odds
narrowly favor Secretary Hull His
pulling power is based entirely on his
prestige and characterize has no po-
litical machine and has made no eff
fort to push himself into the imelight
as a candidate. But, in the opinion of
many, he is the sole Democrat now