RUSSIA AND FINLAND

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23940, 16 October 1939, Page 7

RUSSIA AND FINLAND

PROGRESS OF NEGOTIATIONS LONDON, Oct. 14. The Helsinki correspondent of the British United Press says the Foreign Minister, Dr Erkko, was interviewed. He said: “Finland has every hope of a peaceful and satisfactory Russian-Finnish agreement in a few days. " “A defensive alliance or any alliance with any Power is out of the Question because no neutral country has alliances. “Myself and my family have made no personal preparations for an emergency, but we regard the .situation anxiously. Europe, if no solution is found, faces the greatest catastrophe in her history. The Government, since Helsinki is a fortified zone on the open sea. may move from there. Troops have been concentrated to defend Finland’s neutrality. The evacuation of civilians is purely voluntary, ensuring that there will be no panic in the event of further evacuaFinland is completely united. The Right and Left Wing political organisations, trade unions, and all national organisations, including women, have offered their services. Reservists are being called up throughout Finland. Smaller businesses have been closed owing to lack of staff, and tram and bu 6 services have been curtailed, Helsinki prison has been evacuated to Turku and the head offices of the oil company to Vaasa. Hundreds of farmers are assisting army transport with carts and horses. Many families are giving watches and jewellery to the national cause.” A New York Times message from Moscow states that it is reported without confirmation that the Soviet is asking for a strip of Finnish territory north of Leningrad, with a view to eliminating Leningrad’s vulnerability to attack from a Power occupying Finland. The Soviet is offering, in exchange, a strip of Northern Russian Karelia. German propaganda is most active in seeking to present a most alarming picture of the Russian-Finnish negotiations. The Berlin. official agency announced that Finland had «approved Moscow’s suggestions, and negotiations are now able to be continued.”