“MOLOTOV OVER-AMBITIOUS”

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20085, 3 November 1939, Page 11

“MOLOTOV OVER-AMBITIOUS”

BIG DEMANDS MADE UPON FINLAND

IRRECONCILABLE WITH INDEPENDENCE

REACTION IN SCANDINAVIAN STATES

(Reed. Nov. 2, 3 p.m.) LONDON, Nov. 2. The Helsinki correspondent of the British United Press states that while it is understood the Finnish delegation to Moscow will refuse the Soviet demands, the Government has issued a statement that Finland will never allow a third Power to use her territory in a measure inimical to Russia. The Moscow demand for a naval base on the Finnish mainland, presumably Hanko, is expected to be a very thorny problem, because it would permit of a severance of Finland’s trade arteries at will. The compensation of Soviet Karelia would merely worsen the defence position by extending the frontier to include a population alien in race and religion. Helsinki newspapers point out that the Soviet demand for a fortified island opposite Baltiski at the mouth of the Gulf of Finland would result in Helsinki, Viipuri and Kotka being under foreign control.

The Oslo correspondent of the British United Press states that Norwegians are unanimous in the opinion that the Soviet Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, M. Molotov, is over-ambitious, in his demands. The Oslo press declares that the demands cannot be reconciled with Finnish independence.

The Stockholm correspondent of the British United Press states that, typifying, the Swedish indignation over the Soviet extension of influence south-west to Finland would mean pressure on the whole of Western Europe. A Finnish “no” will not only be to their interests but also to the interests of Norway and Sweden and the whole of West Europe. Discounting M. Molotov’s A aland offer, the paper Tidningen says •that M. Molotov cannot drive a wedge between the Scandinavian countries! “Not even a great nation like Russia can dictate wishes if the w'eaker nation is determined to stand for its own liberty and independence,” states the paper.