HARD TERMS FOR FINLAND

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23600, 8 March 1940, Page 6

HARD TERMS FOR FINLAND

Peace terms reported to have been offered to the Finnish Government by the Soviet may not prove to be wide of the mark. Certainly the terms are harder than the demands made originally by Russia „on October 14, a stiffening that has unfortunately to be expected -after the heavy price the Red Army has had to pay in blood. But the emphasis in the Soviet proposals remains unchanged. Pier ostensible object in her dealings with Finland has been to cover the Gulf of Finland and Leningrad from attack. Her first pact with Estonia signed on September 29 secured the southern coast of the Gulf and the port of Paldiski at its mouth, as well as the islands of Oesel and Dagoe lying across the southern approach. Finland holds the northern coast and Stalin at first asked for a lease of the port and peninsula of Hango, at the mouth of the Gulf opposite Paldiski, so that the Soviet could "prevent enemy warships or transports entering the Gulf of Finland."' As the entrance is less than 50 miles wide, the lease of ports and aerodromes on both north and south shores should enable it to be sealed hermetically. Stalin also asked for certain islands in the Gulf, all of which except Hogland Finland was willing to cede. His other main concern was to set back the Finnish frontier opposite Leningrad beyond the range of big guns. In exchange he offered to cede territory in inhospitable Karelia and he also asked for frontier adjustments in the Arctic region of Petsamo. Finland took an accommodating view of most of these demands except the lease or purchase of Hango, which she considered would destroy her independence and separate existence. Now after a valiant struggle, she is faced with demands for the Russian annexation (not .lease) of Hango, the whole of the Karelian isthmus and Lake Ladoga, and the guardian towns in north and south of Sortevalla and Viipuri.