WILL NOT SURRENDER VITAL RIGHTS

Horowhenua Chronicle, 17 October 1939, Page 8

WILL NOT SURRENDER VITAL RIGHTS

REPORTED RUSSIAN DEMANDS ON FINLAND * GERMANY ABANDONS FORMER FRIEND By Telegraph—Press Asan —Copyright* Received Monday, 7.20 p.m, LONDON, Oct. 15. The Finnish War Minister, M, Hjahnar Procope, broadcasting, said: “Finland wants friendly relations with Russia and Germany. She will not surrender her vital rights or sign an agreement incompatible with her independence, neutrality and integrity. ’ ’ A Copenhagen message says reports from Moscow declare that. Russia is demanding from Finland the cession of certain islands in the Gulf of Finland, a pledge not to fortify the Aaland Islands and the conclusion of a military pact. There; is also a fourth demand the nature of. which is not known. A message from Helsinki (Finland y says it is now revealed that representatives of the Finnish Nazi Party recently went to Berlin to put the Finnish case before Hitler, but it is. said they returned crestfallen, having seen neither Hitler nor von Ribbentrop, but only a minor official who told them that while Hitler sympathised with their case Finnish inter* ests were now outside the German, sphere. FINNISH DELEGATION RETURNS FRIDM MOSCOW HOPES OF PEACEFUL SETTLEMENT Received Tuesday, 1.45 sum. HELSINKI, Oct. 16. The Finnish delegation has arrived from Moscow to report to Cabinet. Optimism prevails in regard to the: prospect of a friendly settlement. SOVIET FORCES IN BALTIC STATES 70,000 TROOPS AND ELEVEN WARSHIPS Received Monday, 10.50 p.m. LONDON, Oct. 16. The Rome radio announces that theSoviet forces to be stationed in the three Baltic States will total 70,000, of which 20,000 will enter Esthonia on Wednesday for the naval and air bases, 5000 following later. The garrison in Latvia will number--25,000 and in Lithuania 20,000. A message from Tallinn (Esthonia,) says eleven Russian warships are anchored in Tallinn Bay.