BALTIC STATES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23471, 7 October 1939, Page 11

BALTIC STATES

INFLUENCE OF KUSSIA LATVIA AND LITHUANIA ANOTHER PACT ANNOUNCED By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received October 6, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, Oct. 5 Two more small Baltic States, Latvia and Lithuania, have joined Estonia within the orbit of Russian influence, marking further swift advances in the Soviet's northern diplomatic offensive, enabling her to dominate the Eastern Baltic. Moscow announced to-night that Russia and Latvia have signed a mutual assistance pact. The terms are:— (1) Mutual assistance, military and otherwise, against aggression by any great foreign Power, either by sea or by land through Estonia or Lithuania. (2) Russia to supply the Latvian Army with all necessary arms and equipment. Soviet Naval Bases (3) Latvia agrees to the establishment of Soviet naval bases at Libau and Windau, and also air bases and coastal batteries at strategic points in which a limited number of Soviet troops 'will be accommodated. (4) Both will refrain from forming alliances and coalitions directed against either signatory. (5) The pact does not affect the sovereignty over the territory on which the Soviet bases are established, which will remain Latvian but leased to the Soviet on reasonable terms. (6) The pact is to be ratified and operative within six days and durable for 10 years. If not denounced a year before the expiry it will continue for a further 10 years. Lithuania and Finland Latvia has accepted the German proposal to send a trade delegation to Berlin next week. The Lithuanian Government is reported to have agreed in principle to accept the Soviet proposals, which provide for considerably increased trade and transit on the Romny-Yilna-Libau railway, and return of the ethnographicaily Lithuanian part of the Vilua district. It is expected the return of Vilna will occur on October 9, the anniversary of the Polish occupation 19 years ago.

Finland is also the subject of Russian pressure. The inhabitants of the Aaland Islands, commanding the trade routes of Sweden, Finland, Russia and Germany, are disturbed at reports that the Russians are seeking naval bases on the islands. The Rome radio suggests that Russia in seeking to prevent Finland from fortifying the Aaland islands. RECRUITING IN ENGLAND NEW ZEALAND CONTINGENT MEN TO GO INTO CAMP LONDON, Oct. r. The recruiting of a Now Zealand contingent in Britain will open next Tuesday and 200 Xow Zealanders will he medically examined next week. After that they will go into camp as the nucleus of a unit to await the arrival of any New Zealand Kxpeditionary Force. Further enrolments will be made daily. Lieutenant-Colonels I!. S. Park and G. H. Donaldson, and Major 0. S. Duff, all New Zealanders, have been engaged on liaison work in London and will be in charge of enrolments and camp establishments.