WILL BE MADE

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 119, 15 February 1944, Page 5

WILL BE MADE

Finnish Approach To Moscow REPORTED FEELING IN HELSINKI (By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright.) (Received February 14, 9 p.m.) LONDON, February 14. The general feeling iu Helsinki is that a definite Finnish approach to Moscow will be made, says the .Stockholm correspondent of' “The Times.” Reports .vary as to whether the-Finns are prepared to drop the Acting Prime Minister, M. Tanner, from the Cabinet preparatory to a direct demarche to Moscow, but Stockholm observers think that M. Paasikivi is right in bis opinion that this is the minimum required if there are to be any prospects of success. The apparent Finnish willingness to enter peace discussions does not mean that any settlement is preferred to a continuation of the war. It is stressed inside the radical peace party camp that the peace Finland seeks must be combined with the country’s continued independence. The difference from the previous occasion is that political circles are now better prepared for the necessity of even painful territorial concessions. The latest Press discussions have at least begun to prepare public opinion for that.. General Dietl’s German divisions in the north of Finland represent a problem the solution of which is not yet seen. The Russians have lately reinforced their troops', opposite Dietl, without corresponding reinforcement of the remainder of the Finnish front.

Herr Hitler lias sent a Note to Finland ordering the Government to cease all attempts to, reach a separate peace with Russia, says the Stockholm correspondent of the “Daily Express.”

Hitler threatened “necessary measures” by the 120.000 German troops in Finland if the order was disobeyed. German troops are now reported to be in state of alert. PROMINENT FINNS Presence In Stockholm LONDON, February 13. The Finnish diplomat, M. Paasikivi, resolutely maintains that he is in Stockholm purely for private reasons. The United Press Stockholm correspondent .quotes him as saying: “You must talk to Helsinki about politics. I retired into private life long ago. I am going to see my friends, and my wife will see a doctor.", ’ MJ Leo Ebrnrooth, Finnish Minister of the Interior, arrived in Stockholm yesterday. He said: “I am not here for peace negotiations. I have come to discuss the question of Finnish child refugees in Sweden.” , Besides Ehrnroth and Paasikivi, other prominent Finns at present in Stockholm are MM. J. Erkko, former Foreign Minister, and Virtanan, a member of the Finnish Foreign Affairs Parliamentary Committee. The Finnish Foreign Affairs Committee last week discussed prospects of peace with Russia, aAd it is reported that seven of its 12 members wanted to ask Russia for peace. The Stockholm correspondent of the London “Observer” says that if a survey of Finnish public opinion were made an overwhelming ' majority would undoubtedly vote for peace,