MOSCOW TALKS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 287, 5 December 1939, Page 7

MOSCOW TALKS

WHY THEY FAILED BRITAIN ASKED TO BETRAY BALTIC STATES GERMANY WAS LESS SCRUPULOUS [ British Official Wireless ] RUGBY, Dec. 3. In the light of the events of the last few days the grave responsibility which lies on the Nazi Government for the invasion of Finland by the Soviet forces becomes clearer, in the opinion of wellinformed quarters in London. It is not doubted, in view of available evidence, that the occupation of Finland, like that of the Baltic States, was insisted upon by M. Josef Stalin, Russian dictator, before the conclusion of the Spviet-Nazi pact last August. It is believed in short that Adolf Hitler was prevailed upon by Joachim von Ribbentrop, Nazi Foreign Minister, to agree in advance to this Soviet demand as part of the price for the Moscow’ pact which the German Foreign Minister calculated would result in keeping Britain and France out of the war Hitler was determined to loose upon Poland. Support for this reading of events comes from facts now disclosed for the first time in authoritative circles regarding the breakdown of the Anglo-French-Soviet negotiations. Britain and France, it will be remembered, had for some months before the invasion of Poland been trying to conclude with the Soviet Government a pact intended to prove a deterrent to German aggression. The course of their negotiations was kept secret. Reason For Failure. It is now admitted, however, that the main reason for their failure was the refusal of the French and British Government to agree to Russian demands which wolud have endangered the integrity of the Baltic States and Finland. For instance, as part of their price for an alliance, the Soviet Government insisted that Britain and France should persuade Finland and the Baltic countries to put at the disposal of the Soviet fleet naval bases on the coast of Oesel and Dago and Aaland Islands. It is pointed out that Britain and France were not prepared to traffic in the sovereignty of small States. Von Ribbentrop proved less scrupulous. It is interesting to recall now the anxiety displayed by Finland and the Baltic States at the time of the Anglo-French-Soviet negotiations lest any undestanding should be reached which might compromise their sovereignty or neutrality. The Nazi Government did its best to encourage such suspicions so long as it feared the conclusion of a tripartite pact against aggression in Moscow but did not hesitate to barter away the independence of these States in return for Soviet acquiescence in the attack on Poland. RUSSIANS ALLEGE USE OF POISON GAS FINNISH GOVERNMENT DENTAL AND OFFER MOSCOW, Dec. 3. The Soviet Press has accused the Finns of using poison gas. A Helsinki communique, however, denies the Russian allegations and the Finnish Government is ready to allow an exhaustive neutral inquiry. During the third day of the war in Finland the defending army has been striking back against a fourfold invasion in the north, centre, round Lake Ladoga, and along the Karelian Isthmus.