Evening star., 1941-09-19
Nazis Discouraged
Northern Defense
Pact, Swedes Say
Firms BIue-White Book
Hod Mentioned Only
Russion Objections

The Nazi government early this
year discouraged Finland and Swe-
den from making a defensive al
Nance. the Swedish Legation dis
closed here today.
The existence of such a compact
when the German Russian war
broke out might have modified the
course of the war in the Baltic and
northern regions.
The Legation made the revelation
OF Germany's attitude i'll state
ment originating with the Swedish
foreign Office in Stockholm and
issued as comment on the recent
Finnish Blue White Book. The Fin
nish book revealed that the Soviet
had objected vigorously TO a Swed-
ish-FinniSh alfange but 1t said
nothing of the Berlin attitude.
The information given to Ger
many regarding the FinnoS Swedish
plans" the Swedish statement said.
was answered with a statement that
In Germany'S opinion II would be
lnopportune TO try 10 realize this
idea in the present situation on ac-
count of Finland's delicate rela-
tions with the Soviet Union
swedish Query i'm January.
After receiving this expression
from Berlin. the Swedish govern
ment in January this year asked the
Finnish government about its atti-
tude
an the middle of the month it
was stated in reply today's Swed-
ish statement says. that the idea
of defense alliance interested the
Finnish government but must evi-
IDENTIFY be deferred as certain for
eign political prerequisites were not
at that time forthcoming.
The alliance was first suggest
I'd as a triple northern concert.
among Finland, Norway and SWed-
en-. while the first Soviet Finish
war still was in progress. Norway
dropped out of the picture after the
German occupation of that country.
The first official Soviet objection
was stated by Foreign Minister
Molotov of Russia, March q, 1910.
nine days after the Finnish-Soviet
war ended.
What the nature of the alliance
would actually be is clearly re-
vealed in a statement made by the
Speaker of the Norwegian Parlia-
ment, Mr. Hambro. which contains
among other things. the remark
that the new eastern boundary of
Finland is TO be only temporary
and must be rectified." MolotOv told
Minister Paasikiyl IN Moscow In
ether words. the purpose is to get
revenge for the peace treaty re-
Gently concluded
Denies Responsibility.
PaaSivlki told MOlotov he was not
responsible for what Hambro said
and insisted that his government
contemplated no move to change the
recently fixed Finnish boundaries.
He said that article of the Soviet
Finnish peace treaty permitted
defensive alliance. but Molotov held
that article forbade it. Article 3
said:
Both contracting parties under
take to refrain from all acts OF ag-
greSsion against each other. and un-
dertake not TO conclude any alliance
or to become parties to any coalition
directed against either of the con-
tracing parties"
When the issue came alive in the
autumn of 1910, Molotov told Paa-
siviki that the Soviet Minister in
Stockholm. Nine, Tollontay. had
informed him the alliance was being
formed and that Finland's foreign
policy would be dictated from Stock
holm. Both the Finnish and
Swedish governments contradicted
this view, but the Soviets refused to
amend their stand.