Sunday, February 25, 1940

TURKEY DECLARES AN EMERGENCY. It’s hard to tell exactly what has happened, since Turkey has cut off all telephone communication to the outside world. But the New York Times says Saturday that the Turkish defense council has declared a state of emergency throughout the country. The Times reports that the Turks would declare an emergency in one of three circumstances: (1) partial or general mobilization, (2) war between Turkey and another country, or (3) war between two other powers that threatened Turkish interests. No word yet on which of these is going on, but allegedly there was “a serious Russo-Turkish border incident” a few days ago.

According to the Times, “It was reported Russian troops crossed the Caucasus frontier into Turkey and declined to withdraw. It was authoritatively reported here late this evening that that the Russian troops were still on Turkish territory, though it is not known whether there has been any clash.” The account also notes, ominously, that at the same time as the rumored Russian border crossing, “unusually large numbers of German nationals [are] inexpicably traveling to Turkey at a time when German technicians are still being expelled from that country.”

It sounds like the Russians and Germans might be planning a joint attack in the direction of the Near East this spring -- before the Allies’ Near East armies can strike towards Germany through the Balkans, or Russia toward the Caucasus. Then again, it could just be a plan by Berlin and Moscow to frighten the Turks out of throwing in their lot with the Allies.

HORE-BELISHA URGES “REAL WAR” AGAINST RUSSIA. Finally, somebody in Britain recognizes that it’s crazy to just sit by and let the Russians destroy Finland. Alas, it’s Leslie Hore-Belisha, the former war minister who was more or less booted out of the Chamberlain government on Jan. 5. An Associated Press story by Robert E.; Bunnelle quotes Mr. Hore-Belisha as calling in a Friday night speech for “:well-planned, adequate, decisive action” by Britain to help Finland resist Russian aggression. The United Press account notes that “it was obvious to his listeners that war with the Soviet Union would be the natural consequence of military aid to Finland.” But the former minister’s own words make it clear why that just may be necessary --

“Finland is fighting for the principles for which we stand and for which the two great democracies declared war. She is fighting against aggression. She is fighting for national independence. She is fighting for freedom. She is fighting for our own food and supplies. How is this so? Does any one imagine that if Russia wins she will be satisfied with just Finland or that Germany, just as she gave to Russia her share of Poland, will not receive from Russia equivalent advantages in Scandinavia?..Unless the weak can be helped by the strong and justice supported by might, the land lost may not be regained for generations. To this inspiring task we are summoned by the plight of the Finns. If we don’t respond with promptness and decision, the cause that we, too, have undertaken will be harder to uphold.”

RUSSIANS LOSE 3,000 IN ONE DAY OF FINNISH WAR. An Associated Press dispatch on the Karelian fighting gets slanted much differently in Saturday’s Chicago Tribune than it does in that day’s Washington Post. The A.P. account, by Thomas F. Hawkins, says the Red Army “thrust forward at several points along a jagged 30 mile front” on the western side of the Mannerheim Line. The story also says the Russians have penetrated at one point within 10 to 12 miles of Viipuri (Viborg), Finland’s second largest city. But the Soviet armies continue to lose men profusely and apparently in total disregard to the cost-in-blood for their offensive.

The Tribune headlined the story like a Finnish defeat -- “Finns Fall Back in Battle Along 30 Mile Front.” But the Post makes it sound like it’s the Russians who are losing -- “Meager Gains Cost Russians 3,000 Dead”. The two papers also differ in just ho w many Russians fell in Friday’s fighting. The Tribune’s A.P. story puts Russian losses at 2,800, and the Post’s version of the same story puts the number at “nearly 3,000.”

So who’s right? I don’t know, but it’s notable that the Tribune has so many times in the past slanted its front-page reporting to support its editorial views. Could the Tribune’s editors be so adamantly opposed to U.S. aid to Finland that they’re willing to propagandize on behalf of Stalin, who they otherwise express nothing but disdain for? I couldn’t prove they are, but...that’s the way I’d bet.

WHO’S THE BUCK-BESTOWING MYSTERY MAN? The Associated Press uncovers a big-hearted citizen in the Ozarks -- “A generous but mysterious ‘sunshine friend’ had the Missouri Ozark country beside itself waiting for the mail man. Cashier’s checks of $100 or more are arriving unexpectedly at homes with this penned admonition: ‘Use this to try and make somebody as happy as this makes you.’ The gifts to charitable and other organizations in Springfield, Mo., total $12,900. Now three former merchants and a widow living in nearby Ava, Mo., have received checks. One check was for $150, the others for $100 each.”