Concern at Soviet Incursion Into Baltic

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 244, 16 October 1939, Page 8

Concern at Soviet Incursion Into Baltic

AMERICA’S INTEREST (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Received 14, 12.45 p.m.) LONDON, Oct. 13. King Gustav of Sweden has Invited the President of Finland and the Kings of Denmark and Norway to a conference at Stockholm on Wednesday next. All have accepted. A Copenhagen message says that the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced to-day that the Danish, Norwegian and Swedish Ministers in Moscow had separately sent Notes to the Soviet Government urging respect for Finland’s independence. The defences of North-East Sweden, adjacent to Finland, are being strengthened. President Roosevelt, at a Press conference in Washington to-day, said that the American representations to Russia yesterday in the dispute with Finland were merely an expression of interest. “I hope that nothing will be done to disturb peaceful relations in :he Baltic or the independence of Fln.and,” he added. Diplomatic action should not be construed in any way as a pressure move by the American Government, which therefore was withholding at present the text of the representations. They were in the form of a personal message from the President, addressed to M. Kalinin, President of the Soviet Supreme Council. Despite visits by Scandinavian diplomats, President Roosevelt said, therJ was no suggestion of joint action. The President’s message was inspired onlj by fear that the Baltic situation .was heading for extension of the war.