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This week Foreign Minister Günther delivered Sweden's best defense against the charges made by Premier Daladier that Scandinavia had blocked Allied help. "I want to emphasize," said he, "that the idea of coming to the help of Finland had opened vistas to the Allied powers that particularly appealed to the French. The deadlock on the Western Front was not popular, and the newspapers in France spoke of the. hunt for new battlefields. Moreover, the removal of the war to Scandinavia would have given an opportunity to cut off the iron-ore exports to Germany. ... It suffices to point out that the Swedish Government was fully convinced that the appearance of Allied troops in Sweden must bring with it the transfer of the war to Sweden. The Swedish people would have been dragged into the war."
Finland. Not so surprisingly, the most sense-making and least rancorous explanation of the peace came from Finland, that nation that enjoys the Northern world's highest percentage of college graduates and where illiteracy is unknown. Said Foreign Minister Vaino Tanner to his people and the world:
"Finland was drawn into war through no fault of her own. Territorial demands were presented to her and she was prepared to satisfy these demands to a reasonable extent. This notwithstanding, the negotiations broke down.
"Finland trusted, however, in agreements concluded with her neighbor and in the desire for peace repeatedly proclaimed by this neighbor and did not believe war would break out. Nevertheless war did break out and the country was compelled to defend itself.
"Right from the beginning it was evident the struggle would be an unequal one. . . . We have continued to send out appeals for help to overcome this deficiency. Our neighbors, the Scandinavian States, for whom it would have been easiest for geographical reasons to send troops to our aid, have not regarded themselves as being in a position to do so.
"The Western Allies, after hesitating for some time in the beginning, have announced their willingness to send to this country a fully equipped expeditionary force if this country so requests. This promise has been frequently repeated during the past weeks. . . .
"Our military command has carefully studied this scheme for our assistance. Its details have been exhaustively discussed. It has been found to be effective in every respect. Yet it contains one weak point. How are these reinforcements to reach this country? The geographical situation of Finland places difficulties in the way. So long as the Baltic Sea is closed, that sea route is out of the question. The route to Petsamo is long and difficult, and it is, further, held by the enemy.
"The only possible route lies across the Scandinavian countries, through Norway and Sweden. The Governments of these two countries have been approached by the Finnish Government on several occasions with a request for permission for Allied auxiliary forces to pass through their territory. A similar request has been made by the Governments of the Allies. This permission, however, has been categorically refused on behalf of both countries concerned.