SOVIET AND FINLAND

Greymouth Evening Star, 16 October 1939, Page 8

SOVIET AND FINLAND

NEGOTIATIONS TO CONTINUE HOPE FOR AGREEMENT [by CABLE —PRESS ASSN. —COPYRIGHT.] LONDON, October 14. The Helsinki correspondent of the British United Press says that the Finnish Foreign Minister (Mr Erkko) said in an interview: “Finland has every hope of a peaceful and satisfactory Russian-Finnish agreement in a few" days. A defensive alliance, or any aliance with any Power, is out of the question because no neutral country has alliances. I myself and my family have made no personal preparations for an emergency, hut I regard the situation anxiously. Europe, if no solution is found, laces the greatest catastrophe of her history. .... “The Government, since Helsinki is a fortified zone on the open sea, may move from there troops which have been concentrated to defend Finland's neutrality. The evacuation' of civilians is purely voluntary, ensuring that there will be no panic in the event of further, evacuation. “Finland is completely united. Right and Left Wing political organisations, including women, have offered their services.” Reservists are being called up throughout Finland. The smaller businesses have closed because of lack of staff. Tram and bus services are curtailed in Helsinki. The prison has been evacuated to Turku, and the head offices of the oil company to Vaasa. Hundreds of farmers are assisting army transport with carts and horses. Many families are giving watches and jewellery to the national cause. From Berlin, the official German News Agency announces that Finland “has approved of Moscow’s suggestions and the negotiations are now able to be continued.” The Moscow 7 correspondent of the “New York Times” states that it is reported without confirmation that the Soviet is asking for a strip of Finnish territory north of Leningrad in view of Leningrad’s vulnerability to attack from the Power occupying Finland. The Soviet is offering in exchange a strip of the northern Russian territory of Karelia. German propaganda is most active in seeking to present the most alarming picture of the Russian-Finnish ijegotiations. SCANDINAVIAN CONFERENCE. King Gustav of Sweden has invited the President of Finland (M. Kyosti Kallio), King Christian of Denmark, and King Haakon of Norway, to a conference at Stockholm on October 18. All have accepted. They will be accompanied' by their Foreign Ministers. This follows the action of the three Scandinavian Powers in urging moderation on Russia in its dealings with Finland. Deep gratitude is felt in Finland for this gesture of friendship, and the Finnish Foreign Minister (M. Erkko) said that it was consoling to know that, friends existed at such a time. An official statement from Helsinki says that the negotiations between Russia and Finland will continue in the hope that the Soviet Government will be reasonable and will understand Finland’s attitude. An earlier announcement said' that the situation was regarded by Finland as serious. The Finnish Cabinet has been enlarged to include representatives of the Swedish minority in Finland and two extra Ministers have been appointed. Every Finn is required if necessary, to work for the country's defence.

NAZI PROPAGANDA. BOLSHEVIK BOGY USED. NEW YORK. October 14. The “New York Times” correspondent, Mr. G. E. K. Gedye, in a message from Moscow, says: — “There is ample evidence that the Nazis are using the Bolshevik bogy in an attempt to harness at least the Scandinavian States to the Nazi peace chariot. The most flagrant example is a German broadcast suggesting that Russia has demanded the surrender of the Aaland Islands. “The Russian proposals do not mention the Aaland Islands, which explains why the Finns allow it to be known that the demands, although grave, can be discussed. “The German propaganda is clumsy, but is having some effect on the Scaninavians who are bombarded with it. The suggestion is that unless they induce the Allies to suspend military operations all Scandinavian States will soon be overrun by Bolshevism.” PACT WITH TURKEY. ISTANBUL, October 14. Newspapers here claim authority for stating that Turkey’s negotiations at Moscow have resulted in an agreement, with the Soviet, harmonising with Turkey’s undertakings to Britain and France.

The Paris correspondent of the Associated Press says: It is reliably reported that a Turkish-Russian agreement has been signed, and that it gives protection to Russia’s right to use the Dardanelles and the Black Sea in accordance with the Montreux Convention. HUNGARIAN MISSION. MOSCOW, October 15. The Hungarian Diplomatic Mission lias arrived. The purpose of the visit is not disclosed. RUSSIANS IN ESTONIA TALLINN, October 15. The first detachment of 300 Russian troops landed at Paldiski, from a transport and a warship. POLISH EMBASSY STAFF LONDON. October 15. The Stockholm correspondent of the Associated Press of America states that the Polish Ambassador. M. Brzybowski. and members of the Embassy staff ami their families, have arrived from Moscow. Ono thousand Finns and Swedes have arrived from Helsinki.