Break With Finland

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 131, 30 November 1939, Page 13

Break With Finland

ATHENE IN THE YOR

MOLOTOV

Ambassador Recalled

GREAT MILITARY ACTIVITY

(By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright.)

(Received November 30, noon.) LONDON, November 29. It is reported from Moscow that the Russian Prime Minister, M. Molotov, announced over the radio that Russia has broken off her relations with Finland and has recalled her Ambassador. The "Pravda" states that the personnel of the Baltic fleet has been greatly reinforced.

A Helsinki message says that Finland has replied to the Soviet Note of Tuesday. The contents of the Note are not revealed. Finnish patrols have been ordered to withdraw some distance from the frontier.

A message from Washington says that the Secretary of State (Mr. Cordell Hull) in a formal statement, said that the United States was willing to extend its good offices in settling the Russo-Finnish dispute. "This ■ Government is,.fpllowing with serious concern the intensification of the Russo-Fmmsh dispute, he said, "and views, with extreme regret any extension of the present area of war consequent on a further deterioration of international relations. Without in any way becoming involved in the merits of the dispute and limiting her interest to the solution of the dispute by peaceful processes, the Government would, if agreeable to both parties, gladly extend its good offices." SENSATION IN HELSINKI. The news that Russia has broken off relations caused a sensation in Helsinki. Cabinet was summoned at midnight. One official said that Mr. Cordell Hull's offer came over-late. The Finnish Cabinet summoned an emergency meeting immediately upon receipt yesterday of the Russian Note denouncing the Non-Aggression Pact between the two countries. Cabinet, rose again at midnight. A communique stated: "The Government considered the new Soviet Note, to whicfr it has defined its attitude. It will hand over a reply today." Other dispatches report-great Russian military activity. Moscow allege? new violations of her frontier. . ' • It is reported but not confirmed that Finnish generalmobilisation has been ordered. The towns are blacked-out. A Finnish Foreign Office spokesman today said: "The situation is most critical. The next few days may be decisive. There are no longer any obstacles against Russians coming over our frontiers." STATE OF PREPAREDNESS. > A Copenhagen message states that it is reported from Leningrad that General Metetschkov, Red Army commander in the Leningrad district, has ordered the air force, troops, and naval forces in the new Baltic bases to maintain a state of preparedness. All leave is summarily cancelled. Great activity is reported from five large airfields in western Russia, and also at the Baltic bases. The Moscow correspondent of "The Times" says that the radio alleged that five Finnish soldiers crossed the frontier and fired on a Soviet detachment. The Soviet troops replied and killed two and took three prisoner. Moscow Radio also asserted that Finnish artillery fired 100 shells at another point, some of them falling in Soviet territory, after which a Finnish detachment attempted to cross the frontier and retreated in the face of machine-gun fire. Military authorities in Helsinki denied the Russian report that Finnish soldiers attempted to crossjhe^ftwn^ien ■