Swedish and Allied Volunteers
To the announcement of the Swedish Prime Minister, Hr. Hansson, that his Government has rejected a Finnish appeal for direct military assistance, is now added a declara- tion by the King himself justifying the decision. The reason given by the King was the grave risk of being involved not only in war with Russia, but also in the war between the Great Powers. Popular feeling in Sweden has run in favour of giving full assistance to Finland, partly because of sym- pathy with her people, and partly because it is believed that Sweden's first line of defence against Russia is in Finland, and that it is better to fight her there with the Finns than to fight her single-handed when her armies reach the fron- tiers of Sweden. To the distant onlooker it seems far more probable that Germany would invade Sweden if that country were fighting Russia on her own territory in the north than if she were fighting Russia successfully in Finland ; for if Russia was actually penetrating Sweden Germany would have more urgent reasons for looking after the iron ores. However, Sweden " at present " (to use the reported words of the King) has made her decision, and it remains to be seen what effective help can reach Finland in the form of volunteers and munitions. The aeroplanes and anti-tank guns which have already arrived from Britain and France have had noticeable effects.
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