PEACE MOVES

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 39, 16 February 1944, Page 5

PEACE MOVES

FINLAND'S POLICY

Reported Conference With

Russian Minister

Is'.Z. Press Association —Copyright Rec. 10 a.m. LONDON, Feb. 15. The position regarding reported Finnish peace moves is very obscure. The latest report comes from the British United Press correspondent in Stockholm, who, quoting well-informed Finnish sources in Stockholm, says Finnish peace negotiations are progressing satisfactorily. "These sources," the correspondent adds, "maintain that Finland is not swerving from her policy of directly exploring the possibilities of peace." The Associated Press correspondent in Stockholm quotes a Finnish Legation source as saying that M. Paasikivi, former Finnish Prime Minister, has had one conference with Madame Kollontay, Russian Minister to Sweden, and expects to meet her again. Meeting Xot Confirmed "The position regarding Finnish peace feelers is at present known only to about half a dozen people," says the British United Press correspondent in Stockholm. "This can be said, however—Finnish sources insist that Finland is determined to pursue her efforts to discover what sort of peace with Russia is obtainable. A meeting between M. Paasikivi and Madame Kolontay had not occurred up to this afternoon." M. Paasikivi, according to Finnish circles in Stockholm, continued to busy himself privately. There was a new development, however, in the return to Helsinki of M. Erkko, a former Prime Minister of Finland, who accompanied M. Paasikivi to Stockholm. It may be that M. Erkko is going to Helsinki with news, and whether M. Paasikivi will meet Madame Kollontay may depend upon the reply he brings back from the Finnish Government. Reports from the best-informed Finnish circles in Stockholm were that the peace-feeler negotiations were progressing satisfactorily. Some said that contact had been established indirectly between Finnish envoys and Russians. The Associated Press, without comment, distributed a German radio announcement saying: "The Finnish Legation in Stockholm denied the Associated Press report which quoted the Legation as saying that M. Paasikivi had a conversation with Madame Kollontay. The Press Department of.the Legation described the report as a 'sheer invention.' " Helsinki Newspapers Silent The Helsinki correspondent of the Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet, quoting authoritative circles, states that there has been no advance in the past 24 hours in the problem of peace with Russia.

Helsinki morning newspapers have not mentioned the subject and there is no confirmation that M. Paasikivi has been in contact with the Russian Minister in Stockholm. Finnish Government leaders conferred all to-day on the question of peace with Russia, says the Helsinki correspondent of the Associated Press. However, there has been no official indication that the Government has asked, or is ready to ask, for terms, as urged by the Social Democrats, which is the party holding the Parliamentary majority. The Finnish Social Democrat Parliamentary party met on February 11 and demanded that the actingPrime Minister, Vaino Tanner, immediately find out Russia's peace terms. Russia's Terms The Stockholm correspondent of the New York Times learns from highly-placed authorities that Finland has really embarked on the road leading out of the war. "M. Paasikivi has come to Stockholm," the correspondent says, "to clinch a deal if possible with the Russians, with the 1940 boundaries forming the basis of discussions. Russia's terms are believed not to be too harsh and she would not interfere with Finland's form of government or the composition of the Cabinet." Reuters gays the report from the New York Times correspondent in Stockholm on Finnish peace moves should be treated with reserve in view of the indirect nature of the source. Reuters points out that neither Moscow nor Helsinki has even officially stated that negotiations are progressing.