SOVIET DEMANDS ON FINLAND

Southland Times, Issue 23998, 13 December 1939, Page 7

SOVIET DEMANDS ON FINLAND

STATEMENT ISSUED IN HELSINKI

SUGGESTIONS FOR COMPROMISE NO ATTENTION PAID BY SOVIET (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright) (Received December 12, 6.30 p.m.) LONDON, December 11. The Helsinki correspondent of the British United Press says that the Government has issued a White Book on the Russo-Finnish negotiations before the war. The Soviet’s demands include:— (1) Moving the Karelian Isthmus frontier westward. (2) Adjusting the Petsamo frontier. (3) Blocking the Gulf of Finland by artillery from both coasts, the Soviet to lease for 30 years Hanko, with adjoining territory with a radius six miles south-east and three miles north-west, for a naval base, for which purpose the Soviet would maintain in Hanko one infantry and three air force regiments, two antiaircraft batteries and a battalion of armoured cars to a maximum of 5000 men. , e (4) Finland to grant the islands ot Hogland, Seiskari, Lavansaari, Tutarsaari, Bjorko and part of the Karelian Isthmus, totalling 1000 square miles. (5) The Soviet would cede to Finland 2100 square miles in the districts of Repola and Porajarpi. (6) The non-aggression treaty should be strengthened, stipulating that neither side _ would join . any group directly or indirectly hostile to the other. (7) The abolition of fortified frontier zones. (8) The Soviet would not object to the fortification of the Aaland Islands providing that no foreign Power, including Sweden, participated. The proposals were presented on October 14. Russia said on October 23, when replying to the Finnish compromise suggestions, that the Russian proposals were the minimum. Finland’s counter-proposals included the surrender of all islands except Hogland, about which further discussion was sought. Finland refused the lease of Hanko and rejected an offer to buy it on the grounds that her neutrality would be affected.