ANOTHER DEADLOCK

Evening Star, Issue 23422, 13 November 1939, Page 7

ANOTHER DEADLOCK

FINNISH’RUSSiAN TALKS SOVIET'S WAR DF NERVES NO INDICATIONS OF INVASION NEW YORK, November 12. The 1 New York Times ’ Helsinki correspondent (Mr A. Marcus Toilet) says: “For the third time within a month tho Finnish delegation has advised the Cabinet of a deadlock in the negotiations with Moscow. The hitch is regretted because it was expected that tho Finnish counter-proposals, submitted yesterday, would afford a firm ground for progress and give evi- < dence of Finland’s willingness to meet the Soviet demands as far as possible. It is conjectured that the Russians are insisting on a naval base at the entrance to the Gulf of Finland, probably at Hango. Well-informed quarters are convinced that neither the Cabinet nor Parliament will he willing to lease territory in this vicinity, which is vital to Finland’s independence. Tho talks may also have broken down over the Soviet demand for frontier revision, the Finns being loth to surrender fortifications on which they have spent large sums of money, and to expose themselves to the same fate as Czechoslovakia after surrender of the fortified Sudetenland. If Russia, therefore, persists on this point settlement is unlikely. “ Tho belief is gaining ground that the Soviet is conducting a war of nerves designed to exhaust Finnish patience, also Finland’s limited finances. Military preparations are costing tens of millions of marks daily, and the evacuation of cities and the dislocation of industries has put a strain on Finland’s economy. A speedy agreement is, therefore, earnestly hoped for here. According to the ‘ New York Times ’ Moscow correspondent (Mr C. E. Gedyo), a further meeting of tho delegations is possible to-morrow. The atmosphere has been more cordial since the Finnish Minister (M. Tanner) and M. Stalin started discussing old times. M. Stalin, when a refugee aged 26 years, was hunted by the Tsarist police and fled to Finland, where he was sheltered and helped by M. Tanner, la a later despatch Mr Gedye says: “ The situation has slightly deteriorated. dearly the Soviet does not intend invasion whatever happens, but equally Finland will be eventually exhausted if the Soviet continues the present tension indefinitely. Doubtless tho realisation that invasion is not intended has stiffened the Finnish attitude, while tho Soviet is encouraged by tho knowledge that Sweden and other backers are urging Finland to settle with the best possible terms, although the real threat to Finland’s independence would probably provoke full support from Sweden and Norway for Finland.” NO FURTHER CONCESSIONS FINLAND'S FIRM STAND HELSINKI, November 12. Dr Erkko declared that Finland had gone to the limit of her concessions. She made extensive concessions in the interests of the Soviet and security, particularly on tho Karelian frontier. Troops wero sent there purely as a precautionary measure necessitated by the nature of the Soviet demands. Tho British United Press Moscow correspondent says that an official news agency declares that the Finns not only refuse tho Kremlin’s minimum Baltic expansion proposals, but intensify their irreconcilability. It adds that an increase in the Finnish divisions on Karelian Isthmus from three to seven exemplifies this, MOSCOW PRESS IN THREATENING MOOD "FINLAND PLAYING DANGEROUSLY" HELSINKI, November 12. (Received November 13, at 1.30 p.m.) The Prime Minister (Dr Erkko) announced that the Soviet-Finuish talks had reached a deadlock and that the delegation was returning in a day or two. The Moscow Press is increasingly threatening, and declares that Finland is playing dangerously. The Soviet will find ways of getting what is necessary. REPORT EXPLAINED "BOMBING" OF CROSS-CHANNEL STEAMER (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, November 12, (Received November 13, at 2 p.m.) With reference to the report that a French cross-channel steamer had been bombed, the British Admiralty and Air Ministry issued the following announcement: —“ It is learned from the French authorities that what, in fact, happened was that an aeroplane, apparently uncertain of its position on account of low cloud, flew over the prohibited area at Boulogne, and French anti-aircraft guns immediately opened fire. Splinters of shell splashing the water gave rise to the report of bombing, but actually no bombs were dropped.”-