NEW FINNISH MINISTRY

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 60, Issue 45, 2 December 1939, Page 5

NEW FINNISH MINISTRY

EFFORT TOWARD PEACE SOVIET UNFAVOURABLE “INDEPENDENT” BODY FORMED ’United Press Association—Copyright.) (Received This Day, 11.15 a.m.) LONDON, December 1. It is understood that the Government M. Ryti has formed in Finland would be prepared to enter into relations with the Soviet Government on the basis of a military standstill. There is, however, no expectations that the Soviet Government, on its side, wilt take advantage of the spirit of accommodation manifested by M. , Ryti’s Government in order to bring hostilities to an end. This view gains confirmation from the announcement by the Moscow radio of the formation of what purposes to be a new Finnish Government at Terjoki. This news was given in a broadcast, in which the Soviet Premier let it be understood that, given orientation of Finnish policy in the direction desired by Moscow, the Soviet Government would be willing to allow reunion of the Karelian, population of the Soviet Union with the Karelians of Finland . under what M. Molotov was pleased to describe as an independent Finnish Government. It has not been overlooked here that the Premier oLthe new and presumably “independent” Soviet Government which has been formed at Terjoji is M. Kussimen, who was for some years secretary of the Comintern and is remembered in Britain as/one of the signatories of the “Zinovieff letter, which figured prominently at the general election here 15 years ago. Reports from thte British Minister at Helsinki (Mr T. M. Snow) indicate that the Finnish Government has no present intention of ’ . evacuating the capital, and Mr Snow is remaining at his post. British Official Wireless.