1939-12-06 — Page 1

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OLDEST NEWSPAPER IN THE FAR EAST. ESTABLISHED 1845. Australia's Choicest

No. 30,858 WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 1939

Price: 10 Cts

BUTTER

MEASURES

SWEDEN'S POLICY COERCIVE MAY LEAD TO NEW BY U.S.? DEVELOPMENTS

RED ARMY MASSING FOR NEW OFFENSIVE

Tromsoe, To-day. Large Soviet reinforce- ments are being concentrated near Murmansk for what seems likely to be a large- scale offensive in the extreme north of Finland.

Following landings by the Red Army on both sides of Petsamo Fiord, troops began to move up in large numbers from Murmansk, according to Finnish air observations.

The Finns have a military force of 20,000 in this area, with a strong na- tural defence system, and sanguinary fighting appears to be imminent.

Petsamo is still in Finnish hands. Reuter.

RED ARMY'S REPUTATION AT STAKE

(SPECIAL TO "CHINA MAIL") BERNE, TO-DAY.

IF THE SO HIGHLY PRAISED RED

ARMY IS UNABLE TO ACHIEVE

IN

A FEW DAYS THE DO- MINATION OF DIMUNITIVE FIN- LAND, THE JAPANESE ARE LIKE- LY TO DRAW CERTAIN CONCLU- SIONS FROM THE STIUATION, IN THE OPINION OF THE ZURICH NEWSPAPER, "VOLKSRECHT.”

The journal points out that Italy. is watching the situation with equal interest for with any sign of a loss of Soviet prestige, such a loss will in- crease the tendency of the Baltic na- tions to rely on Italy for protection against Soviet imperialism.---Havaṇ, SECRET SESSION OF PARLIAMENT NEXT WEEK

London, To-day.

It is understood that the secret session of the House of Commons will be on December 13. Parliament is expected to adjourn on December 14 until January 16.-Reuter..

·ITALY'S "LEAGUE' WITHDRAWAL.

Rome, To-day.

It is authoritatively affirmed

that

Italy's withdrawal from the League

|

(SPECIAL TO “CHINA MAIL”)

Paris, To-day. POLITICAL CIRCLES HERE are of the opinion that the attitude to be taken by Sweden at Geneva in the name of all the Scandinavian countries will be highly significant, and that it will possibly entail unforeseen developments in Northern Europe.

It

(SPECIAL TO "CHINA MAIL")

KIRA PI

Washington, To-day. Agitation is developing for the severance of diplomatic relations with the Soviet, and the question is passing the plane of home politics.

Republican leaders such as ex-President Herbert Hoover

and Senator Vandenberg as- sert that the Soviet violated its promise not to engage in

is pointed out that from the start of the Red inva-propaganda in the United States, and the Republican sion of Finland, Swedish public opinion has Party is developing the view- adopted the strongest and most unequivocal at-point that President Roose- titude towards Russia.

velt blundered in recognising the Soviet in 1933.

a

basis.-

During the first days of the Soviet is, it will aim at giving the Govern-

stronger national aggression over 600 Swedes in Stock-ment

Finnish Havas. holm alone enlisted in the Army while recruiting offices opened in many other Swedish cities, and they were literally besieged applicants.

were

by

Within a few hours over 400,- 000 kronen were collected for the Finnish Red Cross.. Popular feeling compelled the Min- ister of Justice to ban the Communist Party in Sweden.

Sweden's pro-Finnish policy is like- ly to meet many difficulties.

GERMAN CHARGES Germany already accuses Sweden, and especially her Foreign Minister, Mr. Sandler, of the responsibility for Finland's present fate, for he is said to have encouraged Finnish resistance against the Soviet proposals at recent diplomatic conferences.

PLANS FOR EVACUATION OF STOCKHOLM (SPECIAL TO "CHINA MAIL") Stockholm, To-day.

For the past two months the Swe- dish Government has been busy mak- ing preparations for the evacuation of women and children from the main cities in case of emergency.

It is understood the Swedish plan is based on the British evacuation scheme which went into effect shortly before the outbreak of war.

The Swedish authorities declare that Swedes wishing to volunteer for service in the Finnish Army are free to do so provided the recruiting is not done in Swedish territory. Havas. the

The impending reshuffle of the Swe- dish Cabinet will most likely be ef- fected along the lines on which the Finnish Cabinet was reorganised, that

CABLE CODE

DECISION

authen-

of

be

It is announced that one ticating code group consisting Ave figures or five letters may included in Remittance Telegrams of leading Insurance, Shipping and Commercial- Houses. The Chief Cable Censor is authorised, at ! his discretion, to demand production of the code book used.

SCANDINAVIAN CONFERENCE

(SPECIAL TO “CHINA MAIL") *. Oslo, To-day. ...It is officially stated that the Foreign Ministers of Sweden and Denmark are duc here on Thursday to confer with their Norwegian colleague on questions to be subiniitted to thì League of Na- tions in connexion with the Red in- vasion of Finland.Havas.

will become effective on December WEATHER · FORECAST:—North-East

11--Reuter.

winds, moderate to fresh; final

Despite this agitation it seems that the situation contains elements capable of further strengthening President Roosevelt's prestige.

A PRECEDENT

The man-in-the-street sees that the Neutrality Act is not applicable to the Finnish conflict, and realises that the legislation makes no dictinction between aggressed and aggressor.

?

a

Unanimous approval of the Preal- dent's moral embargo thus creates most important precedent.which may President to eventually enable the resort to coercive measures against the aggressor with the full support public opinion.-Havas.

HAVE AN H.B.-

HIR

-AND THEN. TRY!

of