BEFORE THE WAR

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 142, 13 December 1939, Page 11

BEFORE THE WAR

THE SOVIET DEMANDS

MINIMUM PROPOSALS

LONDON, December 11

The Helsinki correspondent of the British United Press says that the Finnish Government has issued a White Book on the Russo-Finnlsh negotiations before the war.

The Soviet demands included:— 1. Moving the Karelian Isthmus frontier westwards.

2. Adjusting the Petsamo frontier.

3. Blocking the Gulf of Finland by artillery from both coasts, the Soviet to lease for 30 years the port of Hanko, with the adjoining territory in a radius of six miles south-east and three miles north-west, for a naval base, for which purpose the Soviet would maintain in Hanko one infantry regiment, three air force regiments, two anti-aircraft batteries, and a battalion of armoured cars, to a maximum of 5000 men.

4. That Finland grant the islands of Hogland. Seiskari, Lavansaari, Tytarsaari, Bjorko, and part of the Karelian Isthmus, totalling 1000 square miles.

5. That the Soviet cede to Finland 2100 square miles in the districts of Repola and Porajarvi.

6. That the Soviet Non-Aggression Treaty should be strengthened by

stipulating that neither party join any group directly or indirectly hostile to the other. 7. Abolition of the fortified frontier zones. Finally, the Soviet would not object to fortification of the Aland Islands, provided that no foreign Power, including Sweden, participated. ! The proposals were presented on October 14. Russia stated on October 23, when replying to the Finnish comj promise suggestions, that the Russian proposals were a minimum. Finland's counter-proposals included the surrender of all the islands except Hogland, regarding which further discussion was sought. Finland refused to lease Hanko and rejected an offer to buy it, on the ground that Finnish neutrality would be affected.