FINNS ACCUSED OF TREACHERY

Southland Times, Issue 24596, 19 November 1941, Page 5

FINNS ACCUSED OF TREACHERY

RUSSIAN COMMENT ON REPLY TO U.S.

(Rec. 9.40 p.m.) LONDON, November 18. Dealing with the Finnish reply to America a special communique issued in Moscow alleges that almost immediately after the signing of the RussianFinnish peace in the autumn of 1940 Finland allowed several German divisions to enter Finland to prepare for an attack on Russia, in which Finland expressed her readiness to join. “This shows the Finnish rulers’ treachery towards both their own and the Russian people,” states the communique. “It will not be surprising, therefore, if the people of Europe and Russia deal with these gentlemen as they intend to deal with Hitler’s clique.” The communique denies that Russia presented new and unjustified demands on Finland after the conclusion of the Russian-Finnish peace or interfered in Finland’s internal affairs.

The communique answers the assertion that Finland must be permanently on guard against Russian imperialism by recalling that the Soviet Government recognized Finland’s independence, which all previous Russian Governments refused to do.

“Finland’s present disgraceful attitude confirms before the world’s eyes the Soviet’s well-founded concern for the security of its north-western frontiers and the approaches to Leningrad,” states the communique. “Mr Sumner Welles informed M. Procope (the Finnish Ambassador) on August 18 that Russia was willing to discuss peace, but instead of replying to this question, which was vital for Finland’s existence, Finland’s present rulers prattle about a so-called ‘defensive war’ in order to conceal from their own people the annexationist aims of their war against Russia and the true meaning of their alliance with the Hitlerite imperialists.”