FINNISH APPEAL TO UNITED STATES

Southland Times, Issue 23947, 13 October 1939, Page 7

FINNISH APPEAL TO UNITED STATES

American Interests As Brake On Soviet HELP FROM NORTHERN POWERS (United Press Association—Telegraph Copyright) < (Received October 12, 11.30 p.m.) HELSINKI, October 12. The Finnish Foreign Minister (M. Erkko) will broadcast to America tomorrow, begging the United States to intervene and stay Russia’s hand. The Finns are bewildered by the rapid march of events and are clinging to the desperate hope that Scandinavian-American interests may act as a brake on the Soviet’s ambitions. The Finnish newspapers express deep appreciation of Britain’s attitude, but active assistance from Britain is not expected. The United States is prepared to throw her diplomatic weight into an effort to preserve peace in the Baltic, says the Washington correspondent of the Associated Press of America. However, officials want to wait for more word from Moscow as, apparently, the Russian demands are not yet known.

In their courageous stand, the Finns have the sympathy of all Americans, not only because of their unique record of paying all their debts, but because in 20 years they have built up a free, sound and enlightened State, says The New York Times in an editorial. No nation in Europe better deserves to survive.

The State Department at Washington in a statement said that no diplomatic approaches had yet been made to. Russia. Diplomats of interested Powers said that the situation was too delicate to discuss.

The Washington correspondent of The New York Times says that Finland’s absorption by Russia would cause a wave of resentment in the United States, greater than that at the over-running of Poland.

The Finnish-Soviet talks begin in Moscow this afternoon, according to a Daventry broadcast early this morning.

The Swedish, Norwegian and Danish Governments are likely to make parallel statements in Moscow, urging the Soviet Government to take no action that will prejudice the neutrality of the Scandinavian bloc.