THE TERMS

Evening Star, Issue 23525, 14 March 1940, Page 11

THE TERMS

MORE OMSTIC THAN EXPECTED HILL DETAIL* Of TKAIY LONDON, March 13. u poace Urmt art far. ' iiwra drartie tNn ware «peeted. Tha caaiion of the Karelian Isthmus maant that Finland will o«ve up tha Mannarhaim Lina. The Russian burst Hahko means that tha Soviet will control the Gulf of Finland, menacing Helsinki. Tho Moscow, radio at' 3 a.m., announced the full terms of the treaty, aa follow*: — I: Military . operations to cease immediately.

New frontier* to be fixed whereby the followingterritories will he included in Russia: —The whole of the Kafelian Isthmus, the city of Viipuri, the . whole of Viipuri Bay with its islands ; also territory west and north of Lake Ladoga including the towns of Kakisalmi, Sortavala, and Suojarvi; territory north of Markajarvi and Kuolajarvi and parts of- the Peninsula of Bybachi; a number of islands in the Gulf; of Finland. The precise frontier will be fixed by' a joint commission during the 10 days after the signing of the treaty.

3. Both countries to give a pledge of non-aggression and undertake not to conclude alliances or join coalitions directed against either signatory.

4. Finland to lease to Russia the Peninsula of Hanko for 30 years, with ah. area of fire miles south and east of Hanko and three'miles west and north of Hanko with all the islands in this area, for an annual Russian payment of 8,000,000 Finnish marks. 6.' Finland to agree to the estahlish- ■ ment at Hanko of a Soviet military base for protective purposes, Russia gaining the' right to maintain troops and air units, and Finland to remove her troops from the Peninsula within 10 days.

6. .Russia to obtain the right of free transit through PetAamo into Norway, also, the right to establish a consulate at Petsamo. Russian goods sent through Petsamo are to be free from control and from duty. Soviet nonmilitary planes are to be given the right of free movement over the Petsame region for the purpose of communication between Norway and 'Russia. Russia agrees to withdraw troops from the Petsamo area where Finland, under the treaty of 1920, is still allowed to maintain 15 war each under 400 tons. Finland will have no right to naval bases in the Petsamo area except what are necessary for the upkeep of the warships there. 7. Finland agrees to grant right of way across Finland between Russia and Sweden .by the shortest route, for which the signatories will jointly build a new railway between Kandalaksha and Kemittrask during 1940. 8. After signing the treaty the signatories will resume economic relations and undertake to negotiate a new trade treaty.

The protocol adds that hostilities will cease at noon to-day. The withdrawal of troops behind the new frontier will begin at 10 a.m. on March 13. The preamble declares the treaty is being signed because the negotiators, “led by. a desire to cease warlike operations,, are convinced that friendly relations will assure mutual safety, and in • addition the safety of their cities, particularly Leningrad, Murmansk, and the Murmansk Railway.” PROCEDURE FOR TRANSFERS. The Commands on both sides will take steps to prevent the destruction or damage to' towns and villages ceded, and will also protect structures of military and economic importance. All questions: arising from the transfer of districts, towns, villages, and structures will be settled on the spot by representatives appointed by the commanders withdrawing the troops. The withdrawals in the various sectors will 'be completed between March 19 and 26. The Red army will evacuate Fetsamo by. April 10. The exchange of prisoners of war will be effected as soon as possible. PACT RATIFIED BY FINLAND HELSINKI, March 13. Tt is officially announced that the Russo-Finnish peace pact treaty has been signed. All warlike operations have ceased. Parliament ratified the treaty. ■ FIGHTING STOPS LONDON, March 13. The signing of peace between Finland and Russia was officially confirmed by the Finnish Government, and fighting has now stopped. Finnish troops are to withdraw to the new frontier at the rate of nearly five miles a day. Dr Risto Ryti (Prime Minister ofFinland), M. Passikivi, General Walden, and M. Voionmaa signed the treaty for Finland, apd M. Molotov (Russian Prime Minister), M. Zhdanov (a member of the Supreme Council) and General Vassilievski signed for Russia. ANNOUNCEMENT CAUSES CONFUSION IN SCANDINAVIA LONDON, March 13. The Moscow announcements threw Scandanavia into the greatest confusion. Finnish official circles seemed unprepared for the news, and did their utmost until well after midnight to prevent the news leaving Helsinki. The Associated Press of Great Britain’s correspondent began after midnight a telephone message to London. He got as far as saying it was officially denied that the treaty was signed'and that the Diet was meeting in the greatest secrecy when he was cut off. The Helsinki radio at midnight also asserted that an agreement had not been reached, and officials there were still denying an agreement at 1 a.m., local time. The Finnish Spokesman emphasised that the final word was not spoken because peace depended on the decision of the Diet. AMERICAN LOAN TO CONTINUE WASHINGTON, March 13. (Received March 14, at 1.36 a.m.) The Loan Administrator, Mr Jesse H. Jones, announced that the 20,000,000 dollar Finnish loan would be continued for rehabilitation and refugee work.

WORLD REACTION

RUSSIAN AND GERMAN JUBILATION EUROPEAN COMMENT VARIES GREATLY LONDON, March 13. (Received March 14, at 12.36 a.m.) Although a partisan strain runs through most of it, and Russian and German sources express great jubilation with usual well-disciplined unanimity, European comment on the RussoFinnish peace terms varies greatly. The Moscow ‘ Pravda ’ says the safety of Leningrad and the Soviet northern frontiers is secured. The Soviet people and the working class throughout the world received the news of the treaty with satisfaction. The conditions entirely correspond to M. Molotov’s demands of October 29. Then the only purpose was to strengthen the security of Russia, which has no other intentions but peace and never wanted to infringe the independence of any of her neighbours. . The Stockholm ‘ Dagensnyheter ’ says Finland was forced to make peace because she could not count on effective help from outside. The ‘ Svenska Dagbladet ’ says perhaps the peace terms; will do. more damage than all Stalin’s bombs. Finland has escaped further horrors of war, but at what price after so many victories and after so much dearly-shed blood? The ‘.Svenska Dagbladet ’ asks whether security for the future has been sacrificed for the peace l of'the present. NAZI COMMENTS ON FAMILIAR LINES BERLIN, March 13. (Received March 14, at 10.65 a.m.) The ‘ National Zeitung ’ states that Britain, and France suffered a defeat of such enormous proportions that it is possible only vaguely to conceive the consequences. The Soviet has given such a demonstration of its 1 readiness for peace that one will watch with justifiable interest whether the Rus-sian-Turkish traditional friendship will be resumed. —i PAIN AND HUMILIATION FELT “ NORDICS BECOME WEAKER AND POORER " 1 COPENHAGEN, March 13. The ‘ Berlingske Tidende ’ says the message of peace will hardly be received by a single Scandinavian without pain and a feeling of humiliation. The general impression is that the peace will .weaken Finlartd terribly and will simultaneously alter the position of the whole of Scandinavia. “ Finland has had to bear the sufferings,” the newspaper adds, “ but sufferings also will come to-the Nordics, which yesterday became weaker and poorer.”, SWEDEN WELCOMES NEWS DENMARK FEARS FOR FUTURE LONDON, March 13. A Stockholm message states that the severity of the terms shocked and bewildered the Finns. The news was joyfully received in Stockholm’s theatres and cabarets, but the implication of Russia’s right of access to Sweden and Norway across Finland is not yet appreciated. According to a Stockholm message, M. Erkko (a former Foreign Minister of Finland) received the first news of the peace treaty from Moscow in the early hours before transmission to Helsinki.

A Copenhagen message states that people queued up in front of the newspaper offices early in the morning and sullenly agreed that it was a sad peace. The Danish newspaper ‘ Politiken ’ says the peace will bring pain far beyond Finland’s frontiers. Official circles in Rome greeted the peace with the greatest satisfaction. The treaty is regarded as checking an extenson of the conflict after the Allies offer of increased aid to Finland. A Berlin message states that the German Spokesman did not conceal his. jubilation over the peace, which ho describes as honourable and a diplomatic and military setback of the first magnitude for the Allies.

FINLAND MUST BE FIRST TO JUDGE BRITISH PRESS REFLECTIONS LONDON, March 13. (Received March 14, at 1.45 a.m.) 1 The Times,’ in a leader, says Finland herself must be the first to judge whether the conditions of the treaty are compatible with freedom and security. The Finns magnificently satisfied one condition under which the Allies would have helped—namely, the will and power to help themselves. The only other condition was co-operation from Scandinavia. This was not forthcoming. • The ‘ Daily Mail ’ says Berlin forecasts important Finnish nickel concessions going to Russia, which would be a big success for Hitler, but another report declares that the mines are worked by the British and will remain inside Finland, although the mines will be affected by the pending RussoFinnish trade pact. The ' Yorkshire . Observer ’ says by accepting the peace terms the gallant Finns save the Allies from having to throw valuable men and materials into action which might have brought them into direct conflict with Russia.

MULTIPLICITY OF VIEWS SWEDEN RECEIVES HEAVIEST CENSURE LONDON, March 13. (Rceived March 14, at 12.55 p.m.) The world’s Press continues to reflect the multiplicity of views and sentiments on the Russian-Finnish peace, ranging from the Russian and German gloating over the “ setback ” suffered by the Western democracies to the bitter grief and dumb oppression which the correspondent of Stockholm’s ‘ Tidningen ’ ascribes to the Swedish nation. The Italian Press describes the settlement as a “ so-called peace which does not dishonour Finland, but offends European conscience, if it is still conscious of justice.” Blame is directed in varying degrees against the democracies, of Which Sweden probably receives the heaviest censure, FINNISH CIVILIANS KEPT IN DANK LEARN NEWS FROM FOREIGN BROADCASTS ROME PAPER'S GIBE AT ALLIES HELSINKI, March 13. (Received March 14, at 9 a.m.) Groups of people stood in the streets in the morning eagerly discussing the spate of rumours. They were obliged to depend on foreign broadcasts for the news that their country had surrendered. The public were even unaware that Parliament was meeting, and when the High Command ordered the soldiers to lay down their arms at 11 a.m. it told the civilians nothing. The Finnish radio strangely omitted the usual news bulletin, and gave the people music.

According to a message from Oslo, the ‘ Tidens Tegn ’ declared: “We are witnessing a tragedy ip which we also are guilty. We must blame the Scandinavians for a weak defence policy and nervous neutrality.”

A Rome message states that the ‘ Popolo di Roma ’ said: “ The peace terms indicate a signal Soviet Finnish heroism has been wasted. The British and French, as is their custom, hasten to show their readiness to help now that peace is made.”

M. Tanner said Finland’s new frontier was the approximate line fixed during the reign of Peter the Great. “ We were not prepared for this war,” ho said, “ because we trusted in treaties. We also had certain guarantees from other quarters. We asked for help from Sweden, who was in the best position to aid, but Sweden did not find it possible to do so. We received some help in the form of arms, money, and humanitarian help. Our army did well. It fought with all its might. I will not use the commonplace word heroes, but will say they fought like men. We achieved many great victories, and only on the main frontier were jye forced .to .withdraw

a little. There will not be any political changes in the Finnish Government, and there is no question of the Soviet’s puppet, so-called Peoples’ Government,, being imposed on the Finns.”

M. Tanner revealed that the Finnish Government made contact with the Soviet about a fortnight before the Finnish delegation went to Moscow on March 6. The Soviet’s peace terms, he said, were much heavier than their original peace offer, which was much heavier than their demands last autumn.

Troop withdrawals begin at 10 a.m. on Friday, A message from London states that Mr Chamberlain is expected to make a statement in the House of Commons approximately at 4 p.m. concerning the Russo-Finnish settlement.

AMERICAN VIEWS ALLIES RID OF MILITARY PUZZLE NEW YORK, March 12. The Washington correspondent of the ‘New York Times’ says; “The first reaction here to the RussianFinnish peace is a belief that the entire Scandinavian area will be neutralised, recasting future events in the European war. While it is felt that Finland has been spared the horrors of war there is an uncertainty concerning the effects on the Allies. There is a tendency in diplomatic quarters to regard- the peace as a diplomatic blow to Britain and Franco.’’ The ‘ New York Times ’ and the ‘ New York Herald-Tribune ’ print almost identical leaders. While deploring the fate of Finland as a blow to Allied prestige, they emphasise that it is unlikely to affect the Allies’ military situation.

The ‘ New York Times ’ points out that if the creation of a Scandinavian front were vital, the Allies would haye acted, earlier. It adds; America wouf^

not be justified in criticising either the Allies, or Sweden.” The ‘ Herald-Tribune ’ says: “ Allied support for Finland must always have been a very risky venture,' The Allied Command, whatever the popular desire ,may have been, is. well rid of: a puzzling military problem. Americans have ho; right to cast' stones at Congress for its hesitation to assume the slightest risk.” STATEMENT BY PRESIDENT AMERICA'S WARM REGARD FOR FINLAND WASHINGTON, March 13. (Received March 14,- at 12.55 p.m.) While various members of Congress denounced the Russo-Finnish treaty as “ another Hitler victory,” President Roosevelt issued a statement repeating his statement of December 1, adding : “ The Finns, by. their unexcelled valour and strong resistance • in. the face of overwhelming armed forces, have won a moral right to live in everlasting, peace and independence in the land they have so bravely , defended. The people and Government of Finland have again increased the respect and warm regard in which they ar© held by ' the United States. Even though it is clear that by virtue of an attack by a neighbour many times stronger -they have been compelled to yield territory and' accept a material weakening of their- own ' future; defence apd their, independence, the ending of this War'does not yet clarify the small nations’ inherent right to maintenance of their integrity. against attack by superior forces.”

President Kallio cabled Mr Hoover that he hoped that the relief effort would continue. Mr Hoover stated: “ The fund mutt continue ■ to meet civilian emergencies.’!

LAST WAR COMMUNIQUE

HURLING BACK RUSSIANS TO RITTER END

PROBLEMS OF RECONSTRUCTION; i ■' , . / ■ HELSINKI, March 13: (Received March' 14, at 12.55 p.m.) Finland’s last war communique revealed that the' Finnish troops were hurling back the Russian attackers to the bitter end. Many countries are turning their thoughts to the problems of reconstruction of the devastated Finnish towns and countryside, also the probable transplantation and ' rehabilitation ;of the 400,000 Finns who are domiciledin the territory ceded to Russia. ." Many of these are in dire need. , , , The Hoover Committee has cabled an offer of help to President Kallio, and the Swedish Parliament is discussing methods of assisting Finland to “regain her feet.”