PEACE TREATY FOR FINLAND

Chronicle (Levin), 30 August 1946, Page 5

PEACE TREATY FOR FINLAND

Press Assn.

COMMITTEE'S RAPID PROGRESS LEAVES IHE SECRETARIAT BEHIND I

By Telegraph

-Covyrlght

Received Friday, 12.30 a.m. PARIS, August 29. The Finnish Political and Territorial Committee of the Paris Conference progressed so rapidly that it adopted eleven articles of the draft treaty within ninety minutes, and had to postpone discussion of the Australian human rights amendment because it was so far ahead that the secretariat had not eaught up.

The first five articles of the treaty so far approved confirm the territorial and bases clauses of the Russo-Finnish armistice, the chief of which are: Firstly, that the Finnish frontiers should be those existing at January 1, 1941, and Finland returns Petsamo to Russia. Secondly, that the Aaland Islands are to remain demilitarised in accordance with the present situation. Thirdly, that Russia confirms the renunciation of her right to lease Hangoe Peninsula, while Finland confirms a Russian lease for fifty years for a site in the Port Kalaudd area for the establishment of a naval base.

The discussions in other committees are not so brisk. When the ltaiian Economic Committee discussed whether to establish a subcommittee to deal with the article concerning Italian reparations, the Yugoslav delegate opposed the Russian suggestion that there should be a general debate first. He said: "We will all be old men by the time we leave Paris if we do that." The committee debated the matter for an hour before deciding to start discussion immediately clause by clause, and decide about establishing sub-committees when necessary. During the debate the chairman announced that Belgium and Holland were putting in reparation claims against Italy.