Scandinavia and Herr Hitler At Stockholm on Tuesday the Foreign
Ministers of the three Scandinavian States—Norway, Denmark, Sweden— and Finland issued a joint declaration refusing Herr Hitler's offer of a non-aggression pact. The declaration takes the form of a reassertion of the policy of neutrality laid down last year at Oslo, and repeats the Scandinavian States' inten- tion to remain outside all the groups which may be formed in Europe. The adoption of such a policy has been forced on the Scandinavian States by circumstances, and may be traced directly to the breakdown of the League of Nations ; it was first publicly expressed after the failure of the League to carry through the application of sanctions against Italy. But it may be questioned whether the form of isolation adopted by Scandinavia can be maintained ; it will be re- membered that even in August, 1914, Denmark had to depart from the principles of neutrality by closing the Baltic on the demand of Germany, and Denmark is visibly hesitant about offending Herr Hitler today. Nevertheless, Scandinavia has no choice ; a positive policy would only be possible in a situation in which the Covenant was a reality. This week's declaration will have an effect only as another expression of the reluctance of the smaller States of Europe to risk implica- tion in war by associating themselves more closely with either of the two rival groups in Europe.
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