PEACE NEGOTIATIONS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23602, 11 March 1940, Page 7

PEACE NEGOTIATIONS

RUSSO-FINNISH HOSTILITIES

AXIS POWERS INTERESTED ' DIPLOMATS ACTIVE IN CAPITALS Von ribbentrop for rome By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received March 10, 8.30 p.m.) LONDON. March 10 Negotiations between Finland and Russia are understood to be / rea ching the final stages, says a Stockholm despatch. The Russians apparently insist on the terms of peace being settled before an armistice is declared. The Finns asked for an armistice last week, when the negotiations were in the early stages, but it was refused. Three Finnish delegates, namely the Premier, M. Ryti, the former Finnish Minister to Stockholm, Dr. Paasikivi, and a member of the Army Geneiral Staff are reported to have gone to Moscow for discussions with the Soviet Government. The Foreign Minister of Finland, M. Tanner, in an interview, said a decision would probably be reached on Monday or Tuesday. He added that if the Russian proposals were not acceptable the fighting would continue. So far the tempo of the war has not been affected by the peace moves. Axis Support for Finns Suggested Some quarters suggest that a united German-Italian-Finnish front is in preparation to induce Russia to modify her demands on Finland. The German Foreign Minister, von Ribbentrop, left for Rome yesterday. German political circles were of opinion that as a result of this visit the international political situation was likely to enter a decisive phase, said a report from Amsterdam. The report added that all neutral correspondents in Berlin were agreed that an important aspect of the Finnish peace negotiations was being transferred to Rome. A Berlin message, however, said the visit was for the purpose of a "normal exchange of views between the Axis partners.' Later advices state that the spotlight is now concentrated on Moscow, although von Ribbentrop's visit to Rome is keeping Germany and Italy in the forefront of developments. Germany is reported also to have sent a special representative to Stockholm, where diplomats continue to be active in spite of the apparent shifting of the venue of the peace talks to Moscow. I " Two Specific Russian Demands " Direct negotiations between Dr. Paasikivi and Madame Kcllontay, Soviet Minister to Stockholm, were to begin at Stockholm yesterday, said the Stockholm correspondent of the British United Press, in an earlier despatch. He added that there were only two specific Russian demands—firstly, the cession of part of the Karelian Isthmus to guarantee Leningrad's security; and secondly, some unspecified point near the mouth of the Gulf of Finland as a naval base to protect Soviet interests. Unconfirmed reports stated that the Finnish Army Com-mlinder-in-Chief, Baron Mannerheim, had arrived in Stockholm by air to join Dr. Paasikivi. As a climax to a day of rumours, said another Stockholm message, came a report that important British political personalities had arrived in Helsinki.