RUSSIA'S TERMS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23603, 12 March 1940, Page 7

RUSSIA'S TERMS

ABATEMENT DOUBTED OPINION IN LONDON GROWING AID FOR FINNS By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright British Wireless LONDON, March 10 Reports from Moscow are not informative as to the terms of peace under discussion. If peace, honourable to Finland and according security for her essential integrity and independence, could be obtained now, the world would welcome the relief of the sorely tried Finnish people from further horrors of war, and the triumph of her hei'oic defence of her country. Advices received in London, however, do not encourage the hope that Russia will abate the demands which caused the Finnish Government three months ago to choose to fight against uneven odds rather than compromise its country's independence. What the Allies are Doing The part Which the German Government is taking in the rumoured peace moves is not known, although there is little doubt as to the keen desire of the Xazi leaders to see their Bolshevik Allies disengaged from the embarrassing adventure in which they have involved themselves. In diplomatic circles it is not believed that the Finnish Government would be prepared to accept a settlement which conflicted with Finland's honour or independence after three months of heroic defence, which has •won the admiration of the world, and at a time when aid from the Western Powers has begun to assume sensible proportions. The Finnish Government cannot be in doubt as to the readiness of the British and French, Governments to give all possible assistance to Finland in her resistance of aggression, which is compatible with their own commitments. and which may be rendered possible by the attitude of other Powers —themselves participants in the League of Nations' response to Finland's appeal —toward the granting of necessary facilities. No secret has been made in London or in Paris of the fact that preparations have been in train to that end.

Resistance Powers not Exhausted The extent and rapidity of whatever aid Britain could give Finland depends not only on the attitude of the Finnish Government toward assistance from Britain and France, but inevitably, and largely, on the attitude of Sweden and Norway, which, as far as has been revealed, is not such as to facilitate help to Finland being further intensified. Press reports suggest that it was the growing impression that the military help of the WesteYn Powers to Finland would increase that induced Sweden-to undertake work of an intermediary, and that Russia became more inclined for a compromise when she realised that the alternative might be that she would be involved in a major war. The view is taken in London that Finland's powers of resistance are by no means exhausted. In the press there is evidence of a growing demand that if Finland's resistance is continued further help should be forthcoming from the anti-aggression Powers.

GERMAN PROBLEM FINNS' RESISTANCE CAPITULATION SOUGHT British Wireless LONDON. March 10 The Sunday Times says that nil Western civilisation has a stake in the saving of Finland. The continued resistance of the Finns is particularly disliked by Germany, not merely hecause it represents a victory for the civilised principles against which she is fighting, but because it uses up Russian resources which she had hoped otherwise to divert to herself. "Germany, therefore, is joining with Russia in a diplomatic attempt to exploit the situation at Viipuri by coercing the Finns into a capitulation," says the paper. "The exact demands put forward by the Soviet are not known officially, but there is reason to suppose them to be much harsher even than those which the Finns rejected before the lighting began. If unofficial accounts are correct, they would leave Finland more .helpless than Czccho-Slovakia after Munich, and would immediately transfer the Russian threat to the 'frontiers of Sweden and Norway."

RUMANIA'S OIL BARGAINING WEAPON BUYING GERMAN PROTECTION LONDON, March 5 It is suspected that it is in the hope of finding safety in satisfying the oil demands of friends and potential enemies alike that Rumania has derided to increase lier annual oil production by 2,000,000 tons. This will make the total 8,000,000 tons. "Rumania gives the excuse," says the Bucharest correspondent of the News Chronicle, "that additional production is necessary to finance lier vast imports of armaments, but the true position is that Rumania is suffering from pressure jy Germany. "The Rumanians hope to buy Nazi irotection against Russia with oil. "It is reported that the Rumanian Minister to London- will . return to Bucharest simultaneously with the arrival of the German economic envoy, Dr. Clodius. "It is-expected that he will discuss in the first place Rumania's promise that Britain shall have at least as much oil as Germany, and, in the second place, a revaluation of sterling since the recent adjustment of the Reichsmark.

VISIT BY DR. SCHACHT March li Dr. ' Schacht, former Minister of Economics, will go to Bucharest this week.