CEDING OF ISLANDS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 109, 4 November 1939, Page 13

CEDING OF ISLANDS

FINLAND APPARENTLY WILLING

NO LEASE FOR SOVIET BASE

EYES ON SWEDEN

NEW YORK, November 2. . The Moscow correspondent of the "New York Times," Mr. G. E. R. Gedye, sa}'s that apparently Finland is now willing to cede Hogland and other islands off Kronstadt (the Soviet naval base near Leningrad) and also territory in the extreme worth of Finland, but that she will fight rather than lease Hanko as a Soviet base. Despite M. Molotov's threats, the Finns seem to believe that the Soviet recognises the concessions as being generous and will cpnclude a peaceful agreement.

( Everyone is looking towards Sweden, the correspondent continues, it is felt that a definite decision by Sweden to maintair. in all circumstances the solidarity of the Scandinavian bloc would stabilise the situation and avert the possibility of a conflict. Without Denmark the Scandinavians could mobilise a million men.

Germany is adroitly exploiting the situation and blackmailing the Scandinavians into supporting a campaign against the British blockade, Mr. Gedye states, but it is hardly likely that the Scandinavians will be impressed by Germany's ability to restrain Russia.