PRESSURE ON FINLAND

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 118, 15 November 1939, Page 9

PRESSURE ON FINLAND

SOVIET INTENTION

FORCING CONCESSIONS

ATTACK THOUGHT

UNLIKELY

MAY OCCUPY ISLANDS

- (J?y. Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright.) : y y NEW YORK, November 14 ; The Washington correspondent of the "New York Times" says that information reaching Washington indicates that the Soviet intends to maintain her* pressure and keep Jieavy troop concentrations on the Finnish border, but is reluctant to lose her technical neutrality by an open attack. The financial pressure ,on Finland is heavy,.and it is understood that the Russians hope this will eventually force concessions, otherwise they would use force later ii£ developments elsewhere distracted -attention; * , )

The sosrespondeiit:adds that-th*-Re-Construction Finance Corporation Kin • is considetihg'Finland's -application for trade loans through the • Export and Import Sank, 'but it: is officially denied, that loans are so imminent as to influence Finland's atti-tude;'to-Russia, diplomatic circies, however; believe that the expectation oi United . States itrade financing, •coupled With United States moral backing, maj? have influenced-Finland to Tbreak the negotiations./ ' :;'rX ci *7-'-y *: IF HOLLAND IS ATTAGkED. Continuing, the correspondent says it is feared that should Germany attack Holland, Russia may take advantage, of the situation to act against Finland. ,_• This is one of the reasons for, the consultation by the United States Minis--ter in Holland, Mr., Gordon, 1 with Queen Wilhelmina. The Under-Secretary of State, Mr. Sumner Welles, has also conferred , with the Netherlands Minister ;in Washington, Mr. Loudon. . '•.' The view that the Soviet will not attack but will maintain her pressure"is supported by the Moscow correspondent of. the "Neto York Times," MP. G. ~Ei R. Cfedye. He says it is possible, though unlikely, that the Soviet will occupy islands off the Finnish coast in -the Gulf of Finland, throwing the re- • spbnsibility for opposition on She Finns. Hdwever, pressure is most-likely, to take the: form of a Press and radio campaign, allowing the provocation of a series of frontier incidents and keeping the TFinns in suspense and mobilised.