FINLAND’S POLICY

Evening Star, Issue 24056, 1 December 1941, Page 7

FINLAND’S POLICY

CO-OPERATION WITH HITLER AMERICAN APPREHENSION CONFIRMED WASHINGTON, November 28. The Secretary of State, Mr Cordell Hull, in a statement to-day, said: “ 'The recent acts of the Finnish Government confirm United States apprehension that Finland is fully co-operating with Hitler, and the forces of war against the Soviet.” Referring to Finland’s recent Note explaining why she had not ceased hostilities, Mr Hull said after careiul study: “It lias thrown no light upon the question uppermost in the Government’s mind—how far and to what extent Finnish military policy is one of combined operations by tho Germans and Finns vitally to injure Britain and her associates and to threaten the northern supply lines over which Russia is now receiving supplies and assistance from Britain and the United State.” Mr Hull criticised Finland’s signing of tho Berlin Anti-Comintern Pact, which was being used by Hitler solely as an instrument to wage a war for the conquest and domination of free peoples, “ therefore Finland’s action is nightly significant and cannot be camouflaged or explained away by propaganda attacks.” A message from Helsinki states that after a detailed statement by the Premier (M. Johann Rangcll). a special session of the Finnish Parliament passed a vote of confidence in the Government's military and foreign policy. "AIMS WILL SOON BE ACHIEVED" KANHERHEIM'S MESSAGE TO PARLIAMENT (Rec. 12.15 p.m) LONDON, Nov. 30. Field-Marshal Mannerlieim scut the following message to the Finnish Parliament:—“Our strategic aims will soon be achieved. Wc do not want an imperialist war, but must have frontiers better than the present ones.” M. Rangcll, in a speech, declared; “ Russia does not keep her promises. Our security can bo achieved only by shortening the frontier and moving it farther eastward!. England threatens war. It would be regrettable if she reached the opinion that British interests demanded that Finland against her will should be dragged into tho big war. Finland hopes that FinnishAmerican friendship will be maintained. The United States made proposals to Finland of such a nature that they would have improved tho Russian military position at tho expense of Finland. It is hoped that America will give attention to the facts of our reply, because in any discussion concerning our security wo" cannot deviate from the lines stated in it.” THE PHILIPPINES "UNPREPARED AND UNPROTECTED " MANILA, Nov. 29. “ Should war strike now, it would find the Philippines unprepared and unprotected,” said President Quezon in a speech. “ Thousands might be killed for lack of air raid shelters. If war had broken out two months ago there

would have been starvation.” American “ imperialists ” had blocked his defence plans, he said, in order to have an argument against independence for the Philippines.