SOVIET-FINNISH TALKS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 107, 2 November 1939, Page 13

SOVIET-FINNISH TALKS

PREMATURE PUBLICATION OF RUSSIAN DEMANDS

DELAYING OF NEGOTIATIONS

(By Telecraph—Press Association—Copyright.) . (Received November 2,10.20 a.m.) HELSINKI, November 1. A Government communique says that by making public ehe Soviet demands at the moment when the Finnish delegation had just left for Moscow to deliver their Government's reply, the Russian Premier, M. Molotov, has created a new and most difficult situation. Hitherto, it is stated, the negotiations have been confidential, and Finland, independently, and without outside pressure, has tried to find a solution of the questions presented to her, despite the difficulty due to the policy of neutrality she has adopted. In so doing Finland desired to meet Russia's endeavours to secure her security, without, however, risking her own security. It is too early to say whether M. Molotov's statement will in any way affect the Finnish Government's viewpoint, but in any case it must naturally delay the continuation of the negotiations. The communique adds: "The Soviet Union, in the nonaggression treaty concluded with Finland in 1932, undertook to respect the frontiers fixed by the Peace Treaty at Dorpat between Finland and Russia, and to settle all differences peacefully. Finland replied to the Soviet Union that she will respect this agreement, the validity of which was extended to 1945 by agreement between the two countries in 1934." A Foreign Office spokesman, with the Finnish delegation to Russia, after making contact with the Government at the border, said that the delegation decided to continue to Moscow s where it would negotiate until the last hope of reaching a settlement faded. The delegation desired to avoid the possibility of Russia claiming that Finland had disrupted the conversations. Helsinki for the first time is really excited. ,