SIGNS OF UNEASINESS IN FINLAND

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 88, Issue 36, 12 February 1944, Page 5

SIGNS OF UNEASINESS IN FINLAND

U.S. WARNING BROADCAST COMMANDER SAID TO HAVE MADE OVERTURES TO SOVIET Recd. 8.15 p m. London, Feb. 10. The Finnish Commander-in-Chief, Field-Marshal Mannerheim, visited the President, Dr. Risto Ryti, and is believed to have urged the necessity of making overtures to Russia, says the Daily Telegraph’s Stockholm correspondent. A Cabinet reshuffle, excluding the acting-Prime Minister, M. Tanner, who has long been identified with extreme anti-Russians, would have to precede such a move. Both Left Wing and Social Democrat members of the Opposition are alarmed at the recent developments on the Leningrad front and have been seeking Field-Marshal Mannerheim’s intervention, probably through his personal representaiive in Helsinki, General Kikoni, who is believed to be pro-AHied. The Finnish radio to-day broadcast the warning to break the German alliance, given to Finland by the United States Secretary of StaJe, Mr. Cordell Hull. The radio added that the advice will be seriously studied by all responsible Finnish circles. The Moscow newspaper Red Star says: “The Finnish rulers have tried io determine their strategical frontiers. Now tne Red Army will determine them. The Red Army is capable of defending Soviet frontiers in the legion of Helsinki.”

The German news agency says it is reported from Helsinki that the Prime Minister of Finland, M. Linkomies, is convalescing after an operation to the thyroid gland.