PORT OF PETSAMO

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 76, 19 June 1941, Page 5

PORT OF PETSAMO

NO FURTHER SEA TRAFFIC BRITISH NOTIFICATION TO FINLAND (Rec. 11.47 a.m.) Rugby, June 18. The Ministry of Economic Warfare announces that the British Government informed the Finnish Government that from 14th June no further sea traffic would be allowed into the Arctic port of Petsamo. Last autumn the Finnish Government granted the Germans the right of transit of troops across Finland to and from Norway, although this was regarded as a grave breach of neutrality. The British Government, desiring to encourage the Finns to try to maintain their independence, agreed to permit the resumption of sea traffic to and from Petsamo provided suitable j arrangements were made to prevent j any imports reaching the enemy. Early j this month it became obvious that Ger- j man troc. 3 were entering Finland in j such large numbers as to make it tolerably clear they were taking up permanent positions in Finland and were not in transit to Norway. Accordingly, the British Government no longer is able to r .rd the Finnish Government as capable of complying with the terms agreed upon last autumn. No navicerts will for the time being be granted to ships proposing to sail to Finland, and already three Finnish vessels on their way to Petsamo have been intercepted and detained.—8.0. W.