BLUNT RUSSIAN CHARGES

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 47, 19 November 1941, Page 7

BLUNT RUSSIAN CHARGES

Experience With Finns

RESULT OF THE 1940

PEACE

Confirmation To World

(By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright.) (Received November 18, 9.55 p.m.)

LONDON, November 18.

Dealing with the Finnish reply to America, a special communique, which was issued in Moscow today, alleges that almost immediately after the signing of the RussianFinnish peace in the autumn of 1940 Finland allowed several German divisions to enter Finland to prepare an attack on Russia in which Finland expressed her readiness to join. “This shows the Finnish rulers' treachery toward both their own and the Russian people,” the statement says. “It will not be surprising, therefore, if the people of Europe and Russia deal with these gentlemen as they intend to deal with Hitler’s clique.”

The statement denies that Russia presented new and unjustified demands on Finland after the conclusion of the Russian-Finnish peace or interfered in Finland’s internal affairs. It answers the assertion that Finland must, be permanently on guard against Russian imperialism by recalling that the Soviet Government recognized Finland’s independence which all the previous Russian Governments had refused to do. g “Finland’s present disgraceful attitude confirms before the world’s eyes the Soviet’s well-founded concern for the security of its north-western frontiers and the approaches to Leningrad,” the communique continues. “The American Assistant Secretary of State, Mr. Welles, informed the Finnish Minister, M. Procope, on August 18 that Russia was willing to discuss peace, but instead of replying to this question, which is vital for Finland’s existence, Finland’s present rulers prattle about a so-called ‘defensive war’ in order to conceal from their own people the annexationist aims of their war against Russia and the true meaning of their alliance with Hitlerite imperialists.”