FINLAND AND SOVIET

Grey River Argus, 1 April 1944, Page 5

FINLAND AND SOVIET

Mew Negotiations BELIEVED TO _BE PROCEEDING (Rpp 90) LONDON, March 31. “The Times” Stockholm corresnondent says: Although it is not officially confirmed it seems co have been established that M. Paasikivi, Finnish envoy, h.as gone to Moscow. If this is true it can only mean that the Finnish Government has finally agreed to accept as a basis of negotiations what Russia proposed on February 19. Probably it would s 0 decide after convincing itself that news of modifications that was transmitted to Helsinki by the Swedish Government originated from official Russian sources. The Stockholm paper, “Morgen Tidningen’s” correspondent in the Finnish capital says: Posters appeared in Helsjiiki on Thursday recalling all Finnish soldiers on leave in Helsinki. The censor prevented the correspondent from commenting on news which, it is thought in Stockholm, may herald dramatic developments. The fear of a sudden Russian offensive against Finland may have been responsible for the recall of the soldiers from leave, but it is pointed out that there also is anxiety in Helsinki over the possibility of a German coup. On the contrary, if a Russian-Finnish peace were to be suddenly announced, Marshal Mannerheim would want a maximum number of men under arms to carry out the isolation of the German troops in Finland.