GERMANS UNAWARE OF BALTIC DRAMA.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 262, 6 November 1939, Page 7

GERMANS UNAWARE OF BALTIC DRAMA.

SOVIET'S DEMANDS. Finland Will Accept Only Two-Thirds. INITIATIVE NOW ON MOSCOW. United Press Association.—Copyright. LONDON, November 5. From Berlin it.is stated that the German public is completely ignorant of the tense Russian-Finnish .situation, since 110 word of it has been mentioned in the newspapers. The Prime Minister of Finland, Dr. Ainio Cajander, in a broadcast, asserted that Finland was prepared to defend herself in all circumstances, and was intensifying necessary preparations. The Foreign Minister, M. Erkko, stated that the Finnish answer had. been given to the Soviet leaders, upon whom rested the decision whether further negotiations would be worth while. He added: "Our delegation is remaining in Moscow to await instructions. Our attitude is unchanged. The Russians' proposals would have been offensive to us in peace time. We accepted about two-thirds of them, but there is a limit to everything. They asked for the cession of land north of Leningrad, and of islands in the (lulf of Finland, ami the lease of land on the southern coast of Finland for a military base." M. F.rkko denied that other nations had influenced Finland, and said Kussia must overcome her suspicions. Finland had taken her stand independently. The Koine radio reports that HO,OOO Soviet troops have been moved to the Karelian frontier of Finland. A later broadcast report stated that the talks in Moscow between Finland and the Soviet were being continued in a more promising atmosphere. The Finnish Foreign Office reported last night that the conversations were proceeding amicably, and fresh instructions had been sent to the Finnish delegates. In Helsinki it is regarded as a good sign that M. Stalin attended the talks last night, which lasted one hour.