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LLOYD GEORGE PONDERS FATE OF FINLANDSays Vast ConflictLONDON.—The mission of Sumner Welles in Europe is a general topic of conversation and conjecture in all circles. President Roosevelt cannot contemplate any participation in the war. That possible explanation is ruled out altogether. He could not have Mr. Welles on such an important tour merely to find out what is going on in Europe and what is likely to happen.Mr. Welles holds a ministerial position. The inference generally drawn is that he is sent on a flight over and around the troubled waters to ascertain whether there is any indication anywhere that the deluge is subsiding, and whether there is an olive branch visible anywhere above the flood on which the President's dove can perch.The reception accorded to this humanitarian mission has not been entirely encouraging. No one, of course, resent* it. But there are indications of embarrassment in some quarters and of dubiety as to its timeliness in many others. The belligerents are not yet ready to fight: neither are they ready to stop the fight.Cry for Peace Unpopular.When Col. House paid a similar visit to Europe in 1916, the war had been going on for two years. Neither side was obviously winning, but great battles had been fought. The carnage had been appalling on both sides and humane people in every land were beginning to ask whether a conference could not be arranged to stop the growing horror. Even then there was an insuperable reluctance on the part of combatants to sheathe their reeking swords. A cry for peace whilst your country is at war is never popular. It is deemed not altogether respectable.The only hope today lies in the fact that there still seems to be a reluctance to begin the struggle in deadly earnest. They are still preparing for the real blow.Peace lovers throughout the world, therefore, think there may yet be a chance of inducing the pugilists, whilst they have not yet finished stripping for the fight, to agree to a parley. There is an idea that these preliminaries will come to an end in the spring and that something will happen then that will stagger humanity. It will be too late then to intervene, for the roar of a terrible passion will drown the calm voice or reason. Neutrals will continue to pray for peace, but the combatants will concentrate on victory first. If there be but a bare chance that in this prolonged interregnum before the real slaughter begins a last effort is possible to arrest it, it is surely worth making.There is a complication which threatens to wreck every chance of successful mediation at this stage. That complication is the frightful Finnish business. A shrewd professional man who has no particular interest in party politics said to me this week that over 90 per cent of the people of^lthis country were far more interested in the struggle of the Finns than they were in the war with Ger-May Flame From HostilityBy David Lloyd George.many. Since the Boer war there has been nothing to compare with the sympathy felt for the Finns throughout the world.I remember how everywhere outside Britain the Boer victories were hailed with an enthusiastic frenzy. A Russian, who at that time was at school in the depths of Siberia, told me the other day how the boys cheered whenever the news of a Boer triumph arrived in that remote region. It was quite on the cards that there might be a combination of countries—great and small—against the aggressor of that day. Nevertheless, the nations that sympathized with the Boers. Including America. Germany. France and Russia, restrained their emotions of indignation against Britain and of admiration for the Boers.I doubt whether there was as much as a diplomatic protest. There was hardly any help in munitions and very few volunteers from any of the sympathetic nations. A great war was thus averted. International forbearance ultimately provided an opportunity for British statesmanship, under the guidance and leadership of that great Scotsman, Campbell Bannerman. to restore to the Boers the independence which they treasured and for which they had fought so gallantly.The situation in regard to Finland is, however, entirely different and much more dangerous. War material is being sent from Italy, France, Britain and Sweden to the aid of the Finns. Airplanes and anti-aircraft guns have been contributed by these nations. There are more on the way. America is also lending money. Sweden has dispatched a substantial number of volunteers for the Finnish Army and they are already in action. Britain is now to follow this example.Finnish Aspect Dangerous.By law no British citizen can enlist in the army of a foreign belligerent without license from the home secretary. That leave is now to be given to any Briton who is desirous of joining the Finnish Army, provided he does not belong to any of the classes that have already been called up for service in the war against Germany. It is an important—and may turn out to be a most momentous—decision. The sequel depends partly on the response made to the appeal for volunteers and, largely, on whether it has not come too late to be of much use.Should it be considerable, it might have an effect on the outcome of the tremendous struggle now proceeding on the Mannerheim Line and in the center of Finland. The Times has taken the lead in the appeal for volunteers. It points out that after the capture by the Russians of some of the Mannerheim outposts, the Finns are compelled to counter-attack and their losses will now begin. They are a small people and they have no large resources of manpower to draw upon. The news from the Mannerheim Line is not too good for the Finnish defenders.Along the BalticDespite the desperate fight they've put up. the weight of numbers and material is crushing through their heroism and unless more help is forthcoming soon lrom outside, the fate of Poland may overtake them. Ten thousand Swedish volunteers will be helpful in filling up gaps in the line. But they are not numerous enough to make up for inevitable losses in the coming battles. If the response in Britain and elsewhere is equal to the enthusiasm for the cause, it might well influence a decision. We should then gradually be drawn into indirect conflict with Russia and the situation might suddenly change. There would be a demand from the nations sending volunteers that- their respective contingents in men should be backed by adequate material.I*. S. May Be Involved.Almost imperceptibly Britain, France. Italy, and perhaps America, would then find themselves actually at war with the Soviet Union. The latest news from Finland indicates that help may arrive too late.It is the story of Poland over again. All that will have happened will be that we shall have antagonized Russia without saving Finland.The relations of Germany and Russia are now approaching those of a defensive, if not also an offensive, alliance. If it develops further under the stress of our feeble but provocative activities in the Finnish war, we may find the world plunged into a vast conflict ranging over two continents. I fail to see how the third continent, with its 90 per cent sympathy for Finland, can in the end keep cut of it. It Is Just as well that President Roosevelt should send an emissary to Europe to inform him as to the real position there.(Copyright, 1940.)
Newspaper Details
Evening Star
Washington, Washington-DC, US
Sun, Mar 10, 1940
Page 75
Full Page
Clipped by
Duncan H.
GB 19 Nov 2021
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