Foreign News: Expulsion or Condemnation?

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Since it would take a unanimous Council vote to expel Russia, China's one vote alone would therefore block such action. Other nations with Council seats who are within gunshot of the Red Army were also likely to demur, notably Iran, Latvia and Turkey, to say nothing of the Scandinavian countries. Anti-Soviet zeal, in fact, could last week be directly gauged by the distance of nations from the Soviet border. British and French delegates, who generally stage-manage League proceedings, declared themselves ready to support expulsion provided other nations wanted it.

When the League met, up rose Sweden's delegate, Bosten Unden, to express a wish of his Government endorsed, he said, by Britain: even though good offices had so far collapsed like chunks of snow against Soviet steel, one more effort should be made to achieve peace by request. The League agreed. A special committee drafted a note inviting Russia to cease hostilities and let the League mediate. Richard Austen Butler, head of the British delegation, suggested that some limit must be set; accordingly a reply was requested within 24 hours.

No one thought for a moment that Russia would accede. If not, should Russia be expelled? Probability: censure of Russia's aggression, followed by Russian notice of withdrawal at the end of the customary two-year wait. Certainly no more than moral help would come to Finland through the League.