TRADE LOANS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23504, 15 November 1939, Page 11

TRADE LOANS

UNITED STATES PUNS CONSIDERED POSSIBLE/ INFLUENCE ATTITUDE IN MOSCOW (Received November 14. 7.40 p.m.) NEW YORK. Nov. 14 The Reconstruction Finance Corporation is Considering Finland's application for trade loans through the Export and Import Bank, but it is officially denied in Washington that loans are imminent enough to influence Finland's attitude to Russia. Diplo-

matic quarters believe the expectation of trade financing by the United States, coupled with the United States' moral / backing, may have influenced Finland to break off the negotiations in Moscow. It is feared that should Germany ' attack Holland, Russia would take advantage of the situation to act against Finland. 'This was one of the ' reasons for the consultation of the

.United States Minister at The Hague, Mr. G. A. Gordon, with Queen Wilhelmina. The Under-Secretary of State, Mr. Sumner Welles, also conferred with the Dutch Minister in Washington, Dr. A; Loudon. The view that the Soviet will not attack but will maintain pressure is supported by the New York Times' Moscow correspondent, Mr. G. E. 11. Gedye. He says if;.is possible, although unlikely, that the Soviet may occupy islands off the Finnish coast in the Gulf-of Finland, throwing the responsibility for opposition on the Finns. Pressure is most likely to take the form of a press and radio campaign, allowing provocation and a series of frontier incidents keep the Finns in suspense and mobilised. Finland's only defence will be partial mobilisation, to enable the safeguarding of the frontiers and the releasing of men for agriculture and industry. The Soviet press is continuing its attacks on Finland, and has accused the Finnish Government of not informing the Finnish Parliament of the true nature of the Soviet demands.

WORKERS IN BRITAIN 1 / / BRISKER DEMAND SOON - LABOUR FOR WAR PURPOSES ■(Received November 14, 7.30 p.m.) British Wireless LONDON, Nov. 13 The temporary increase in unemployment revealed in the recent Ministry of Labour returns was an inevitable result of the change-over from peace -• to war conditions; but it is pointed out by the Minister / of Labour that the increase was smaller than in 1914, notwithstanding the fact that the changeover -was more rapid on this occasion and the total population between 16 and 64 years of ago is now 5,500,000 larger than in 1914.--' A rapid rise in the demand for 1 labour ' for war purposes is expected , Bhortly, The development in times of , peace' of the free organisation of employers and workpeople, whose co-opera-tion since the outbreak of the war has been one of the most striking manifestations of national unity, ensures that the demand will be satisfied smoothly. FAMOUS ECONOMIST MINISTRY OF SHIPPING SIR A. SALTER'S POST (Received November 14, 7.30 p.m.) British Wireless LONDON, Nov. 13 Sir Arthur Salter, tho distinguished economist, lias been appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Shipping. Sir Arthur was appointed assistant director of Transport at the Admiralty shortly after the beginning of the last w «r, and when, two years later, the m>od for organising the transport of food became vital, lie was made director of ship requisitioning. Later ho became chairman of the Allied Maritime Transport Executive and a member of the fecial shipping commission sent to tho United States Alter tho war lie served as director of tliq economic rtnd finance section of too League of Nations until, in 1920, no was made secretary of tlie Reparations Commission/ In 1927 lie was tho v|r ln 2 expert for tho League at the Morld Keonumic Conference. RED CROSS FUND (Received Ni.vunher 11. .*>•<■> p.m.) , , British Wireless LONDON. Nov. 13 , I,' 10 Lord .Mayor's Ked Cross Fuud reached £632,000 last night.