BRITAIN AND FINLAND

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 76, 7 August 1941, Page 5

BRITAIN AND FINLAND

BREAKING OFF OF RELATIONS j STATEMENT BY MR EDEN I (Rec. 10.15 a.m.) Rugby, Aug. 6. Mr Eden, Foreign Secretary, made a statement on Anglo-Finnish relations in the House of Commons- He reminded the House that His Majesty’s Government as recently as 22nd July, had announced their decision to main- j tain diplomatic relations with the Fin- j ish Government. “On Ist August the! Finnish Minister called to inform him! that his Government had decided to re- !' call him and suspend for the time: being activities of the Finnish Legation ; in London. His Majesty’s Government

j deeply regret that the Finnish Government, acting no doubt under German i pressure, had seen their way to take ! the initiative in breaking off diplomatic relations. Most British subjects .who wished to leave Finland, including ! the majority of those who offered their services to the Finnish Government at the time of the Soviet-Finnish war, had left Finland for Sweden before relations were severed. Arrangements were under discussion with the Finnish Government for the return of the Briti ish Minister and staff to this country. The United States Minister at Helsinki Ihas assumed charge of British interests in Finland, including the interests of those British subjects who have elected to remain. The Finnish Minister has given an assurance that the Finnish Government regards itself as in honour bound to provide for the British volunteers.”—B.O.W.