FINLAND SAYS “NO”

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 88, Issue 96, 24 April 1944, Page 5

FINLAND SAYS “NO”

RUSSIAN ARMISTICE REJECTION TERMS ENDS THE NEGOTIATIONS Recd. 8 p.m. Rugby, April 22. Russian-F innish negotiations, designed to end hostilities, have broken down. The Soviet Deputy Foreign Commissar, Mr. Vishinsky, made this clear in a statement to-night. Alter recounting the history of the negotiations which have continued since -the middle of February, Mr. Vishinsky said meetings in Moscow between FinI nish and Russian representatives took place on March 27 and March 29. As a result the Finnish delegation was handed the Soviet peace conditions, namely: ‘Either sever relations with Germany and order the internment of i German troops and warships in Finland, or rupture relations with GerI many and expel German troops and warships by the end of April. “In | either event the Soviet Government • would give Finland help with armed forces. “The Finnish reply rejected the proposals and this,” said Mr. Vishinsky, “brings the negotiations for an armistice to a close.”—B.O.W. Recd. 9.45 p.m. London, April 23 Russia has informed Finland that peace negotiations have been broken off, says Moscow radio, quoting Mr. Vyshinsky. This followed Finland’s intimation that Russia’s peace terms were unacceptable. Mr. Vyshinsky, at a Press conference, reviewed Russo-Finnish moves since the Finns’ initial approach in the middle of February. He stated that Finland, on April 10, submitted, through Sweden, the following reply to the Russian armistice conditions: “Finland has receiver! Russian proposals in more specific form than on March 29. The Finnish Parliament decided that acceptance of projDsals which were partly incapable of being out for rurely technical reasons woulH considerably weaken and interfere with the conditions under which Finland can continue to exist as a State and would impose a burden which, according to unanimous competent opinion, would largely exceed the capacity of the Finnish people. Therefore Finland, which earnestly strives for the establishment of good, stable relations with its great neighbours in the east, regrets that the i proposals do not offer a possibility for the realisation of that object.” (The principal Russian terms were that Finland snould pay £150,000,000 in reparations, the » Germans should be expelled or interned before the end of April, the Finnish Army to be demobilised 50 per cent, before the end of May, and Petsamo to be returned to Russia.) Mr. Vyshinskv said that Russian yesterday replied: “The Soviet Government has taken cognisance of the fact that the Finnish Government, replying, rejected the Soviet armistice terms as a basis for negotiations and brought the negotiations for an armistice to a close.” Mr. Vyshinsky added that Britain and U.S.A, were noth advised of the Russian Note to Finland breaking off the negotiations. Britain had already approved the Russian reply. He declined to say whether the door was completely closed to further negotiations.

APPEAL TO FINNS

MILITARY LEADER WANTS UNITY AND SACRIFICE Recd. 7.30 p.m. London, April 23. "The war, which has now lasted three years, makes even greater demands on the Finnish peoples, whose will to fight is being subjected to the hardest test," said Field-Marshal Mannerheim. Commander-in-Chief of the Finnish forces, in a proclamation reported by the German news agency. "The enemy is increasingly attempting to paralyse the Finnish people’s power of resistance by tendentious propaganda. The enemy seeks thus to achieve what neither force cl ai'ms nor air terror has succeeded in procuring. The Fatherland demands from every Finn continued exertions and readiness for sacrifice, and above all, unanimous unity."