FINNS FIGHT ON

Grey River Argus, 9 October 1941, Page 5

FINNS FIGHT ON

IN SELF DEFENCE BRITISH OVERTURES’ REJECTED. LONDON, October 7. The Finnish Government has rejected a British note which warned that Finland would be treated as an enemy if she fought beyond her borders. The Helsinki radio, announcing the rejection, said that Finland is now fighting only in self-defence. It alleged that certain Finnish territory still in Russian hands, is intended for use as bases, for a further attack against Finland. The Prime Minister of Finland, M. Rangell, on his return from Germany is reported to have said that his country “will not make peace with the present rulers of Russia.” Commenting on this “The Times” said: “News recently percolating from Finland indicates grave heartsearching among the Finnish people and politicians alike. Finland’s action in declaring war on Russia made her a tool of Nazi Germany and an agent of naked aggression from which situation her more cautious statesmen are seeking to extricate her. British and American people still cherish a warm regard for the Finnish people. The issue W'hich confronts the Fin nish people was admirably expressed in a recent message to the Finnish Social Democratic Party from the National Council of Labour in this country. That message points out that victory of the Nazis in the war would mean the end of freedom, democrecy and social progress in all countries under Hitler’s sway, whether those countries are nominally his friends or foes. The Finnish Labour movement was therefore urged to take the lead in securing a change in the policy of the Finnish Government, ranging their country beside those fighting for the future of humanity and civilisation*. Still more recently the British Government warned Finland that if she persists in invading Russian territory ‘a situation will arise in which Britain will be forced to treat Finland as an open enemy, not only while the war lasts but also when the peace comes to be made.’ The Foreign Secretary (Mr Eden) indicated that the British Government would even at this late stage welcome the restoration of normal diplomatic intercourse and would in that case study sympathetically any proposals for an improvement in relations between Britain and Finland even though the continued presence of German armies on Finnish soil might render impossible the diplomatic and trade relations which obtained so long as Finland was neutral. ‘This generous offer clearly appeals to large sections of the Finnish Government as the last chance of detaching the country from its fatal entanglement, it that Government persists in action which aids and abets Nazi aggression it will turn the sentiments of the aemocratic nations against the realisation even of Finland s reasonable claims.” INDIAN ARMIES’ PART. LONDON-, October 6. Next year the armies of India will be holding a long line from the Caspian Sea to the Nile. This was stated by Mr Churchill in a message read ’bv the Commander-in-Chief in India (General Sir Archibald Wayell) at a meeting of the Indian National Defence-Council. Mr Churchill stated that in 1942 large supplies of war material would be coming from India in a steady flow. “The sons of India have shown that they are worthy of the highest respect, added the message. The Viceroy (Lord Linlithgow) said that the meeting was the first occasion on .which representatives of the native States and of British-governed India had met together to discuss vital problems of the war. “India is the centre of a great supply organisation covering countries ranging from Australia to South Africa,” he said. Large-scale manoeuvres began today on the North-west Frontier. They were preceded by mock air attacks on five railway stations. BRITISH OFFICERS. B O.W. RUGBY, October 7. Replying to a Parliamentary question, the War Secretary (Captain Margesson) said that the best methods of securing the maximum co-operation between the British and Russian armies were being carefully examined with the Soviet authorities, and the proposal that British officers should be given an opportunity of personal participation in the war on the Russian front, in order to study German tactics at first hand, would be borne in mind. Captain Margesson reminded the House that General Macfarlane, head of the British Military Mission, has viisted the Russian front. HON. P. C. WEbu. URGES HELP FOR RUSSIA. WELLINGTON, October 8. “During my visit to Auckland 1 have met many deputations from all sections of the Labour- movement, and they have signified their determination to sink all differences ana co-operate, sc that the maximun war effort can find expression,’’ said Mr. Webb, when interviewed to-day. “They realise that this war is a war for democracy in the truest sense, and that if Russia goes down in the struggle against Nazi dictatorship, the “Nazis “will have a breathing space to make a final assault on Britain and the Dominions. lhe workers iare anxious to co-operate with the employers, to organise industry for increased production, thus helping Britain and Russia in the struggle for human freedom. Dui ing my experience in the Labour movement, I have never seen sue unity as is being expressed at the present time. The mind of the movement is 100 per cent behind th-, movement to win the war, and to in-1 spire a fair and just peace and not a peace inspired by jingoism or hati-1 that would breed a recurrence ot Nazism.”

ROUMANIAN GENERALS SHOT. LONDON, October 7. According to authoritative Roumanian sources in Istanbul, a number of Roumanian generals were shot, for signing a joint memorandum to General Antonescu, protesting against further participation in the war against Russia. The generals included three recalled from active service- on the Odessa front.