SOVIET’S DEMANDS

Grey River Argus, 14 March 1940, Page 7

SOVIET’S DEMANDS

ALL KARELIA HANKO NAVAL BASE And Other Territories ACCESS TO NORWAY AND SWEDEN. [Aust. & N.Z. r ble Assn.} (Received March 13, 7.55 p.m.) LONDON, March 13. The Moscow Radio at three o’clock this moirning announced the full Soviet terms offered to Finland. These are as follows:-— First: Military operations shall cease immediately. Second: New frontiers are to be fixed,, whereby the following territories shall be included in Russia:— (1) The whole of the Karelian Isthmus; (2) the city of Wiipuri; (3) the whole of Wiipuri Bay; (4) all the Wiipuri Bay Islands; (5) the terri tory west and north of Lake’ Ladoga, including the three towns of Kakisalmi, Sortavala, and Suojarvi; (6) also the territory north of Markajarvi and Kuolajarvi; (7) also parts <jf the Peninsula of Ribachi; (8) also a number of the islands in the Gulf of Finland. The precise frontier will be' fixed by a joint commission, during a period of ten days after the signing of the Treaty. Third: Both countries shall give a pledge of non-aggression, and shall undertake not to conclude any alliance's or join any coalitions directed against either signatory. Fourth-. Finland shall lease the Peninsula of Hanko to the Soviet for thirty years, with an area of five miles south and east of Hanko, and three miles west and north of Hanke, along with al' of the islands in this, area, for an annual Russian payment of eight million Finnish marks. Fifth: Finland agrees to the establishment on the Hanko Peninsula of a Soviet military base for protective purposes; Russia thereby gaining the right to maintain trops and air units on the Peninsula; while Finland is tp remove her troops from the Peninsula within ten days. . Sixth: Russia obtains the right of free transit through Petsamo, in northern Finland, into Norway; and also the right to establish a Consulate at Petsamo. All Russian goods that are sent through Petsamo are to be free from control, and also from duty Soviet non-military planes are to be given the right of free movement over the Petsamo region for the purpose of communication between Norway and Russia. Russia agrees to withdraw her troops from the Petsamo area, where Finland, un- ' der the Treaty of 1920, shall still boj allowed to maintain fifteen war vessels, each to be under 400 tons. Fin-| land shall have no right to any naval, bases in the Petsamo area, except where such are necessary for the upken of her warships there. Seven: Finland agrees to grant a .right of way across Finland between Russia and Sweden by the shortest route, fcr which purpose the signatories shall jointly build a new railway, during the present year,l94o, between Kandalaksha andi KemitAfter signing the' Treaty, the signatories shall resume economic relations and snail undertake to negotiate a new trade treaty.. . The protocol to the treaty terms adds that hostilities will cease at noon to-day. - , The withdrawal of the troops behind the new frontier will begin at 10 am. on Friday, 15th. The preamble to the' treaty declares that the treaty is being signed e cause the negotiators are led by a desire to cease warlike operations, and are convinced that friendly relations will assure mutual safety in addition to the safety of their clt,es - and particularly that of Len, " g^.’ ’ „ mansk and the Murmansk railway.

Finland’s Losses MANNERHEIM LINE. AND CONTROL OF GULF. (Received March 13, 5.5 LONDON, March 13. President Josef . Stalin’s peace terms for Finland are far more drastic than had been expected. lhe cesion of the Karelian Isthmus is demanded. This will mean that Finland gives up the Mannerheim L The cession to Russia of the Naval Base of Hanko means that the Soviet will control the Gulf, of Fin land, thus menacing Helsinki. northern peninsula for RUSSIA. AND STRATEGIC RAILWAY. (Received March 13, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, March 13. The. Russian-Finnish Treaty, it is reported provides Russia shall get the Riba’chi Peninsula, in the far north of Finland (not the Fishermen’s Peninsula, as cabled earlier). It is also reported that under the Treaty it is agreed that a railway will be constructed this year between Kandalaksha and Kemittrask. WITHDRAWAL OF FORCES. next week. (Received March 13, 9.10 p.m.) LONDON, March 13. The Soviet’s peace terms provide that the commands on both sides shall take steps to prevent any destruction or d.amage to. towns and villages ceded on either side, arid, also to protect all structures of military and economic importance. It is also provided that all questions arising from the transfer of districts, towns, villages and structures will be settled on the spot by representatives appointed by the commanders of the withdrawing troops. The withdrawals of troops m the various sectors will be completed be-j tween Tuesday next, March 19th., and March 26th. ' The Red Army will evacuate the Petsamo area by April 10th. I An exchange of prisoners of war! will be effected as soon as possible. |