BREAK NOT FINAL

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20097, 17 November 1939, Page 7

BREAK NOT FINAL

MOSCOW NEGOTIATION POSSIBLE RESUMPTION MINISTER’S ASSURANCE ACTION NOT FEARED (Elec. To). Copyright—Cnitod Press Assn.) (Reed. Nov. 17. 11 a.m.) LONDON, Nov. 16. Referring in the House of Commons to-day to the breakdown 0 f the Fin-nish-Soviet negotiations, the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Sir John Simon, said it hud, however, been emphasised in official circles in Finland that it did not represent a final ruDture between the two countries and that negotiations might be resumed at a later stage.

The Helsinki correspondent of the Associated Press of Great Britain says that M. Passikivi, the Finnish Minister, stated: “We neither expect nor fear military or economic action by Russia.” Placating Russians The Moscow correspondent of the New York Times says that despite the bitterness of the Soviet radio attack on Finland, no startling developments are expected. The calm tone of the statement made by the Finnish Minister of Finance, M. Tanner, on reaching the frontier was calculated to placate Moscow.

“M. Tanner avoided the greatest danger, that is, implying that the prestige of the Russians had suffered,” continues the' correspondent. “A display of animosity is expected in the future, but it must be remembered that these diatribes are addressed solely to the Soviet people, who are accustomed do having colours laid on thickly.

"More significant are reliable reports that the Soviet troops on the border are only half the number of the Finnish. Certainly they are not a striking force and there are no indications of a forward move on Bessarabia, either. The Soviet seems anxious as to whether the developments in the west will confront them with hostile combination powers.