Russia Breaks Off Relations With Finland

Northern Advocate, 30 November 1939, Page 5

Russia Breaks Off Relations With Finland

Army, Navy Warned To Be Ready

Helsingfors Orders Mobilisation

(Received 2.-SO p.m.) LONDON. November 29, RUSSIA HAS BROKEN OFF DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH FINLAND. The Premier (M. Molotoff), broadcasting, said : lil The hostile policy of the present Finnish Government compels ns to take immediate steps to safeguard the external security of our State. “The Red Army and Navy must be prepared for all eventualities. ’ ’ Finland earlier ordered general mobilisation, and towns were blacked out. (The Finnish Cabinet was summoned to an emergency meeting immediately the Soviet denounced the Non-Aggression Treaty, and rose at midnight, A reply was later forwarded to Moscow. i It had not reached the Foreign Office, however, when the Assistant Commissar of Foreign Affairs (M, Potekin) summoned ■the Finnish Ambassador and informed him that diplomatic relations had been broken off. A message from Washington stated that the Secretary for State (Mr. Cordell Hull) said the U.S. was willing to extend its good offices in settling the dispute.

“Patient Negotiations.”

M. Molotoff said: “The Soviet has patiently negotiated concerning certain proposals which are the minimum guarantee of the safety of our country, particularly Leningrad, in view of The international tension, but Finland adopted an irreconcilable attitude, and acted in the interests of foreign imperialists and war-mongers. “Despite all our concessions, the negotiations have been without result. “There have been abominable provocations by the Finnish military forces on the frontier. Our soldiers have been heavily shelled, by artillery near Leningrad and suffered heavy casualties. “Efforts to prevent a repetition of these provocations met with no response, and even evoked a hostile attitude on the part of Finnish official circles.’’ Troops To Be Withdrawn. A communique stated: “The Government considered the new Soviet Note, to which it has defined its attitude, and it will hand over its reply today.” Finland has replied to the Soviet Note of Tuesday. The contents of the reply have not been revealed. Finnish patrols have been ordered to withdraw some distance from the frontier, says a Helsinki message. The withdrawal of the Finnish border troops - has heightened hopes of a peaceful settlement of the dispute with the Soviet, despite the continued violence of the Russian propaganda campaign says the Moscow correspondent of the Associated Press of Great Britain.

Germany identifies herself completely with the Russian demands on Finland, but does not intend to interfere in the dispute in any way.

“Some opinion prevails in Finland that the Soviet, even at this stage, will not demonstrate its military prowess against Finland, but will continue to keep its small neighbour on tenterhooks, in the hope that the protracted suspense and heavy financial outlay of mobilisation will prove too much for the nation’s nerve,” says the Helsingfors correspondent of the “New York Times.” Darkest Day in Eight Weeks. “Today has been the darkest day for Finland in eight painful weeks. “Everybody realises that the climax is approaching. General calm reigns, however, and everywhere the people are confident that the Cabinet will do its utmost - to preserve peace,”

The Moscow correspondent of the “New York Times” says; “It is still difficult to be dogmatic about the Soviet intentions toward Finland. “Reviewing calmly all the sound and fury of the Press, radio, and popular anti-Finnish campaign, it would be unwise to treat it as signifying other, but probably it does not signify the intention to attack immediately. Keep Them on Qui Vive.

“The impression persists that the whole campaign is intended to keep the Finns on the qui vive, and prevent the releasing of men from the Colours, and the allowing of residents to return to the cities. Certainly the Soviet is without wish to be drawn into a world war. “Moreover, the recent formal expression of Scandinavian sympathies with Finland must be considered among the possible consequences of an attack. “Also, the American display of sympathy with the Finns has made its mark here. “The chief objective of the Soviet’s anti-Finnish campaign has clearly been to force a change of Government in Finland by making the present Government’s position untenable through the ridicule and discontent due to the prolonged mobilisation. Indignation Against Germany.

Well-informed quarters stated that Russia wants a resumption of the negotiations. Prepared To Make Concessions.

She is prepared to make concessions provided Finland does likewise, although Russia is so committed to the demand for territory on the Karelian Isthmus that she is expected to insist on it. Newspapers throughout the country denounce the Finnish incident. Workers, peasants and soldiers’ meetings passed resolutions virtually demanding war. Additional elasses of naval reservists have been called up. While again denying the Finnish trespass of Soviet soil, an official communique issued in Helsingfors states that a patrol of six Finnish soldiers, sent to investigate a “mysterious noise” at Petsamo on Tuesday, failed to return. Angry Meetings. The radio in Moscow abandoned its usual musical programme to describe angry meetings held throughout the Soviet after the denunciation of the Russo-Finnish Non-Aggression Pact. The announcer read resolutions passed by factory workers, garrison soldiers and others describing the Finns as “dirty dogs,” “clowns”

“It is perhaps now thought the fear of invasion may induce the Finns to force the Government’s resignation, but it is difficult to. imagine any other regime could—aside from full capitulation—cede territory which is considered vital to Finland’s preservation. “The greatest indignation is felt in Finnish circles, not against the Soviet, but against Germany, whose forces defeated the Russian revolutionary army, establishing Finland as one of Germany’s outposts against the Soviet, and obliging her until now to accept this role. “Today, at the bidding of Hitler and von Ribbentrop, she has been handed over to become an outpost of the Soviet.” Washington Opinion. In spits of the Soviet’s denunciation of the Non-Aggression Pact with Finland, officials in Washington are confident that Russia does not want war if her objective can be obtained by other means. It is thought Moscow will continue the effort to encourage the Finns to overthrow their Government and otherwise attempt to win its claims by methods short of war.

and more expressive names. The United States Ambassador to Moscow abruptly abandoned his visit to Stockholm and departed hurriedly for Moscow. Situation “Most Critical.”

The* Finnish Foreign Office spokesman in Helsingfors said;— “The situation is most critical, and the next few days may be decisive.” “There are no longer any obstacles against the Russians coming over our frontiers.” Other despatches report great Russian military activity. It is reported from Leningrad that ■the commander of the Leningrad district . (General Metetschkowff) has ordered the air force, troops and naval' forces in the new Baltic ports, to mainthin a state of preparedness. Moscow Alleges Raid. All leave has been summarily cancelled. Great activity is reported from the five large airfields in Western Russia, and also from the Baltic bases. The Moscow radio yesterday alleged that five Finnish soldiers had crossed the frontier and fired on a Soviet detachment, ,which replied, killing two of the Finns and taking three prisoners. Moscow also asserted that Finnish artillery fired 100 shells at another point, some falling in Soviet territory, after which a Finnish detachment attempted to cross the frontier, but retreated in the face of machine-gun fire. Germany Backs Russia. The Finnish military authorities, however, today denied the Russian reports. A Rotterdam message says it is officially announced from Berlin that

However, should all these fail, it is feared Russia will unleash her army, since she is anxious to achieve her aims fn the Baltic before the end of the year, in order to be free to turn to the Balkans and Persia in the spring.

It is argued that if Russia failed with Finland, her weapons would bo blunted i'h the south-east. Nazis Assent.

It is believed Germany has already given Russia the assent to proceed in the Black Sea, even possibly to provide herself with ports in the Adriatic, and certainly to proceed in Persia, since this would bring Russia into direct conflict with Britain. Thus increasing pressure on Finland is expected. The “New York Times” says in a leader: “The Russian Government may not care what American opinion thinks of it, but it is entitled, to know before it takes the final step that Finland holds a particularly warm place in the respect and affection of the American people.

“Soviet troops’ invasion of the country would trouble Russo-American relations for many years to come,”