CONCESSIONS TO THE SOVIET

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20093, 13 November 1939, Page 7

CONCESSIONS TO THE SOVIET

DECLARATION BY HELSINKI

FRONTIER GARRISONS REINFORCED

RELENTLESS MOSCOW WAR ON NERVE!

HEAVY DRAIN ON FINLAND FINANCE

(Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Reed. Nov. 12, VI a.m.) LONDON, Nov. 12. The Moscow correspondent of the British United Press says that the official Soviet News Agency declares that Finland not only refuses the Kremlin’s minimum Baltic expansion proposals, hut has intensified the irreconcilability of the Finnish and Soviet aims. It is stated that the increase in the Finnish divisions on the Karelian, isthmus from three to seven exemplifies this.

A message from Helsinki states that the Finnish Foreign Minister, M. Erkko. declares that Finland has gone to the limit in the concessions. Finland had made extensive concussions in the interests of Soviet security, particularly on the Karelian frontier. The action in sending troops there had been purely precautionary, necessitated by the nature of the Soviet demands. The Finnish Minister of Finance, M. Tanner, has telegraphed to Helsinki from Moscow stating that he is not aware as to when the negotiations are being resumed.

The Helsinki correspondent of the New York Times, Mr. A. Marcus Toilet, says that for the third time within a month the Finnish delegation advised the Cabinet, of a deadlock in the negotiations with Moscow. *‘ The hitch is regretted because it was expected that the Finnish counterproposals submitted on Friday would afford a firm ground for progress and give evidence of Finland’s willingness .to meet the Soviet demands as far as possible,” continues the correspondent, “It is conjectured that the Russians arc insisting on a naval base at the entrance to the Gulf oi. I 1 inland, probably at Hango. Well-informed quarters are convinced that neither the Cabinet of Finland nor Parliament would be willing to lease territory in this vicinity which is vital to Finland’s independence. The talks may also have broken down over the Soviet demand for frontier revision, the Finns being loth to surrender fortfications on which they, have spent large sums and exposing themselves to the same fate as C/.eehosiavakia after the surrender of the fortified Sudctcnland. if Russia, therefore, persists on this point, a settlement is unlikely. The belief is gaining ground in Helsinki that the Soviet is conducting a war of nerves designed to exhaust the patience of the Finns and also Finland’s limited finances. The military preparations arc costing tens of millions of marks daily. The evacuation of cities and the dislocation of industries has put a strain on .Finland’s economy. >A speedy agreement, therefore, is earnestly hoped for in Helsinki:” The Moscow correspondent of the New \ork Times, Mr. C. E. R. Ocdye, says that the Finnish situation has slightly deteriorated. ' “Clearly the Soviet does not intend an invasion whatever happens, but equally Finland will be eventually exhausted if the Soviet continues the present tension indefinitely,” states the correspondent. 1 Doubtless .the realisation that invasion is not intended has stiffened the Finnish attitude while the Soviet is encouraged by the knowledge that Sweden and other backers are urging Finland to settle on the best possible terms, although a real threat to Finland’s independence would probably provoke the full support of Sweden and Norway for Finland.

The correspondent adds that a further meeting of the delegations is possible soon. The atmosphere has been more cordial since M. Tanner and M. Stalin started discussing old times. M. Stalin, when a refugee aged 26 years, was hunted by the Czarist police. He fled to Finland and was sheltered*and helped by M. Tanner.