GENERAL ANXIETY MOUNTS IN ESTONIA

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 3, 28 September 1939, Page 9

GENERAL ANXIETY MOUNTS IN ESTONIA

Suspected Demands By Soviet IMPENDING DIPLOMATIC PRESSURE IS RUMOURED (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright.) Received Sept. 27, 9.40 p.m. LONDON, Sept. 27. General anxiety is mounting in Estonia over the relations with Russia as a result of alarming rumours of an impending Russian diplomatic offensive in the Baltic region, states a message from Tallinn. ( Paris reports state that the Swedish newspaper “Dagens Nvheter” discloses that two demands having the character of an ultimatum lie behind the return of the Estonian Foreign Minister, M. Selter, to Tallinn. Russia is claiming the right to establish a naval base to maintain control of Estonia’s foreign trade. The Exchange Telegraph’s Stockholm correspondent states that the Commander-in-Chief of the Estonian army, General Laidoner, in a broadcast, said Estonia had done everything to keep out of the conflict, but if attacked she would’defend herself valiantly and unitedly, just as she did 20 years ago. SUBMARINE ACTIVITY ALLEGED. The Tass (Soviet) Agency reports that destroyers have been dispatched to points near Luga Bay, in Finland, where Soviet patrol ships sighted two submarines. The report stressed the belief of the existence of a secret submarine base not far from Tallinn. The Soviet is not satisfied with Estonia’s explanation of the disposition of refugee Polish submarines. “Therefore,” it is stated, “the Soviet finds it necessary to take immediate steps to safeguard Soviet waters.”

The Moscow correspondent of “The Times” says that M. Selter was summoned at midnight to the Kremlin. He returned to his hotel, packed, spent the night at the legation, and left by plane in the morning.

Reports from various sources say that Russia’s demands include the free passage of Russian trade through Estonia. According to a further message from Moscow, the Polish submarine which escaped from Tallinn had arrived in a damaged condition, and this, the message points out, contradicts the statement that the submarine later was able to leave. The only reason possible was that the submarine had been repaired, and that it was given sufficient petrol to undertake a fast sea voyage. _ Another report from Moscow states that Soviet patrols sighted two periscopes in the Gulf of Finland, and the commander of the Baltic fleet immediately dispatched destroyers to the area. The Estonian Foreign Minister has returned to Moscow for the second time in 48 hours. —By Radio.