Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-01-31

NO. tn lend Es'sssssa Ess q
money toilet David Lawrence.
Finland buy food is sort of subter-
fuge, because Finland needs air
planes and not food. To ask Fin
land to exchange her food credits
given by the United States for war
supplies bought or bartered abroad
Is to connive with Finland to vio-
late the spirit though not the letter
of American neutrality.
It is recognized that the United
States loaned S25,000,000 to China
In the midst of her war with Japan,
and that technically Finland and
Russia are not at war so that it is
not a violation of international law
for the Washington Government to
lend to Finland money for food or
airplanes.
But the whole problem revolves
around a fundamental issue. Of
fetal Washington realizes that Fin
. land is making a desperate stand
against the onrush Of Communism,
and that it is important for Fin
land to be helped because, If the
allies cannot hold back Communism,
then it may spread round the
world.
Want Victory without Risk.
The real difficulty is that neither
the Republican nor Democratic
leadership here wants to face that
fundamental. They want Com
munism beaten back, but they do
not want the American Government
involved in the accomplishment OF
that purpose.
The isolationists are thoroughly
consistent. They, too, are sympa-
thetic with Finland, but they insist
America must not send any money
through the Government here, and
that any aid extended should be by
private citizens who shall give or
loan funds. The Firms, on the
other hand, think this is imprac-
ticable from the point OF view OF
time. They must have financial
aid before the snow is of the
ground so that material assistance
can be forthcoming. y,
The fundamental issue really ism
any different from that which faced
} the Congress last September. II
the allies are beaten and the Brit
ish fleet destroyed, America is held
to be in danger of being compelled
to defend herself against a Fascist
violation of the Monroe Doctrine.
The defeat of Finland is, therefore,
a vital part of the whole picture.
!. So long as Russia and Germany are
allied, some method of helping Fin
land halt the Russians Is part
Of the allied war strategy.
It is, therefore, asked here on
all sides why Britain and France
do not put credits at the disposal
of Finland as they did for Poland
and as they have done in the Near
East. A few million dollars more or
less out of the billions being spent
by Britain and France can hardly
be a consequential item.
Can Give Planes and Materials.
The British and French do not
need to donate or loan money
they can give airplanes and materi-
ais to the Firms. 1t is 10 times
more important for the British and
French that Finland should succeed
than it is for America to assure
such result.
In the final analysis, the big
fundamental issue may have to be
faced-whether the United States
will come to the aid of Britain and
France with money either raised by
private subscription or by direct
appropriation from the United
States Treasury. To create prece-
dent at this time of helping Fin
land may in itself furnish the JUS
LITIGATION for subsequent requests
for aid for Britain and France.
AS public opinion stands today,
there is no desire to enter the Euro
pean war even with financial aid.
The leadership in Congress soon
may reflect that desire by letting
Finland's plea go unanswered,
though there is a rising public
sentiment which evidently believes
that lending money to Finland is
not active participation in the war
or an indirect involvement.
Could Earmark Money.
If the administration were to
permit the pending proposal to in
crease the funds that can be
loaned by the Export Import Bank
to be earmarked so that new money
would go to Finland only, it might
have a chance of passage. The
possibility that Latin American ma
lions will ask for loans if there is
no earmarking is in the back of
the minds of Senators, who answer
that Finland is in danger and Latin
America isn't-at least not yet.
Finland is the unhappy victim of
circumstances. Everybody here
wants to help and yet stay out of
the war If Finland is beaten, the
cause of democracy suffers set
back. But even larger in the back
ground is the possibility that II
England and France find them
selves with their Backs to the wall
America may be asked to send, not
man power, but money and mate.
rails. It's this contingency which
really gives concern here, for ii