SCANDINAVIAN STATES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 244, 16 October 1939, Page 7

SCANDINAVIAN STATES

TO MEET IN SWEDEN DEMANDS ON FINLAND NOTES SENT TO MOSCOW SOVIET PROPOSALS NOT YET CLEAR [By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. Received Oct. 14, 6.35 p.m. LONDON, Oct. 13. A message from Stockholm stat?s that King Gustav has invi.ed the President of Finland and ; the Kings of Denmark and Norj way to attend a conference at Stockholm on Wednesday. Ail have accepted. A Copenhagen message stales that the Ministry of foreign Aifairs announced that the Danish, Norwegian, and Swedish Ministers in Moscow separately sent Notes to lhe Soviet Government, urging respect for Finland’s indpendencc. Paris raoio reports that lhe Rus-sian-Finnish talks last night lasted an hour, it is understood that the Soviet demands at present have not been fully stated, but the basis is apparently the cession to the Soviet of a small island at the entrance to the Gulf of Finland and territory in the Karelian Forest. The National Tidcnde, recalling Scandinavian neutrality in the last war. says the meetings of the kings again show that the nordic countries acknowledge their unity and indicate that an attack against one would be felt as an attack on all. REDUCED TRADE YLGOSLAX' AGREEMENT WITH GERMANY. Received Oct. 15, 7 p.m. PARIS. Oct. 14. | Radio reports state that Yugoj slavia and Germany have signed a j new trade agreement under which the i volume will be 40 per cent, lower than hitherto. FINLAND HOPEFUL SATISFACTORY AGREEMENT IN FEW DAYS BUT SITUATION REGARDED ANXIOUSLY ! Received Oct. 15, 6.35 p.m. LONDON. Oct. 14. 1 | The British United Press Helsinki 1 correspondent says the Foreign Min- [ ister, Dr. Erkko. interviewed, said ’ that Finland had every hope of a peaceful and .satisfactory Russian-Fin- ■ nish agreement in a few days. A defensive alliance, or any alliance with any power, was out of the question I because no neutral country had alliancos. “Myself and my family have made no persenal preparations for an . emergency, but I regard lhe situation anxiously,” ho said. “Europe, if no p solution is found, faces the greatest T catastrophe in her history. ’ He said that the Government, since x Helsinki was in a fortified zone on ] the open sea, might move from there. Troops had been concentrated to defend Finland’s neutrality and the evacuation of civilians was purely voluntary, ensuring that there would be no panic in the event of a further evacuation. Finland was completely united. The Right and Left Wing political organisations, the trade unions and all the national organisations, including those of the women, had offered their services. A Berlin message says the official agency announced that Finland had I “approved of Moscow’s suggestions » and the negotiations now are able to continue.” THE SOVIET REQUEST STRIP OF TERRITORY NORTH OU LENINGRAD Received Oct. 15. 6.30 p.m. NEW YORK, Oct. 14. A New York Times Moscow message 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 Leningrad s vulnerability to attack from a Power ) occupying Finland, and is offering in exchange a strip of the Northern Rus- , sian Karelia. German propaganda is most active, seeking lo present the • most alarming picture of the RussianFinnish negotiations. Reservists are being called up throughout Finland and smaller businesses have been closed owing to lack of staff. Tram and bus services have been curtailed. The Helsinki prison has been evacuated to Turku and the head office of the oil company to Vaasa. Hundreds of farmers are | assisting the army transport, with (•arts and horses and many families i I are giving watches and jewellery to i the national cause. i t BOLSHEVIST BOGEY BEING USED BY GERMAN PROPAGANDA i PRESSURE ON THE ALMM Received Oct. 15. 6.39 p.ffi. NEW YORK, Oct. 14. The New York Timo ennospondent, Mr. G. E. R. Gedye nt a message from Moscow, says theie is ample evidence that the Nazis xie using the Bolshevist bogey in an attempt to harness at least the Scandinavians to the Nazi peace chariot. A most flagrant example is the German : broadcast suggesting that Russia demanded the surrender of tne Aalands. > The Russian proposals do not mention the Aalands, explaining why the ' Finns allow it to be known that tht demands, although grave, can be discussed. The German propaganda is clumsy but is having some effect on the Scandinavians, who are bombarded by the suggestion that unless they induce the Allies to suspend military operations, all the Scandinavian countries will soon be overrun by Bolshevism,