MOSCOW TALKS

Grey River Argus, 13 March 1940, Page 7

MOSCOW TALKS

NO FINALITY YET WIDE DIPLOMATIC ACTION Ribbentrop Gains Nothing FINNISH DELEGATES. RETURNING WITH NEW SOVIET TERMS. [Aust. & N.Z. r ble Assn.J STOCKHOLM, March 11 It is reported that the Finnish delegates left Moscow by air, with the Kremlin’s peace terms, for submission to the Finnish Government. LONDON, March 11. The Finnish delegation is on its •way back from Moscow to Helsinki with the Soviet’s peace terms. The delegation did not have full powers to conclude a settlement, and the terms are therefore to be submitted to the Finnish Diet. There is still no official hint of the nature of the Russian terms beyond the Finnish statement that they arc far-reaching. They are believed to include the removal of the Finnish frontier on the Karelian Isthmus further back from Leningrad. Swedish Report EASIER TERMS. [Aus & N.Z. Cable Assn.] STOCKHOLM, March 11. There are prospects of a RussianFinnish' settlement within 24 hours. The “Aftonbladet” says that Russia has yielded her claim to Hanko and is demanding Uto Island, half-way between Hanko and the Aaland islands. _ , , The Scandinavian Press draws attention to the possibility of Germany and Italy guaranteeing peace. It is believed that the Finns m Moscow demanded guarantees. settlement reported. LONDON, March 11. A message from Copenhagen quotes the “Ekstrabladet’s” Helsinki correspondent, who states that peace between Russia and Finland has been concluded. Russia has abandoned her claim for the whole of the Rybachi Peninsula, enabling the Finns to retain Petsamo and the Arctic coast, also their common border with Norway. Russia has withdrawn her demand for a Puppet State. The Soviet is demanding a frontier on the Karelian from Taibela to Kuhmo leaving the Finns Wiipuri and Helsinki. lhe Finnish Parliament is sitting. ACCEPTANCE denied. FINNISH DENIALS. HELSINKI. March .11. M. Tanner, in a statement, said that the Finnish delegates were stil in Moscow, and the negotiations were pXfflng: He declined to mtanto whether progress was being■ The Finnish Foreign Office denied that peace terms have already been accepted. SWEDEN’S DISCLAIMER. NO CONTACT WITH GERMANY STOCKHOLM, March 11. M. Guenther said: The Swedes are surprised 'at the misunderstanding and misrepresentation of our policy abroad. We have not had the slightest contact with Germany from the beginning of the Russo-Finnish negotiations. , x .. He admitted that Sweden transmitted the Russian proposals and the Finnish reply, and added that the question of a Swedish guarantee o Finland, if peace were concluded had not arisen, although Sweden s maintenance of neutrality was the best way of helping Finland. She had “really done a great deal by supplying materials and volunteers.” SWEDISH POLICY CRITICISED LONDON, March 11. According to foreign diplomatic observers in Stockholm the relations between the Allies and Sweden and Norway are more strained, owing to the Westerns Powers’ attitude towards the Scandinavian role in the RussianFinnish war. Sweden has denied exerting pressure orvj\ Finland to accept Russia’s terms. Diplomatic circles in Paris are critical of Sweden’s attitude, expressing the opinion that it is regrettable that Sweden has adopted to German conception of neutrality, which forbids assistance from third Powers for Finland traversing Swedish territory. When this attitude was adopted, Sweden invited Finland to give up the struggle.