SOVIET COURSE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20107, 29 November 1939, Page 5

SOVIET COURSE

DOUBTS OF ATTACK

OPINIONS IN PARIS

QUICK SOLUTION

WASHINGTON VIEWS

(Reed. Nov. 29, 9 a.m.) LONDON, Nov. 28,

A Paris message quotes M. Blum, writing in the Populaire and likewise other commentators who give the opinion that Russia will not follow up her demands against Finland with an armed attack, no matter what Finland does.

It is pointed out that Finland is already snowbound and has only five hours of daylight daily. It is also emphasised that M. Stalin does not desire to enter a general war as an open ally of Herr Hitler.

' American messages state that diplomatic reports received in Washington reflect the growing indications that Russia wants to liquidate the Finnish situation before Christmas, after which she will move in the Balkans and the Western Baltic. Stalin Determined Informed circles in Washington are convinced that M. Stalin is determined to obtain ali the concessions demanded, particularly the Petsamo nickelfields and the Aaland Islands as a base.

Troop concentrations on the northern borejer of Rumania and Bessarabia continue. ,

“It is slated that if the Soviet is prepared for extremes, she will certainly seize on the allegation in the Finnish note that the Soviet artillery fired the shells as insolence justifying immediate action, but otherwise the suggestion of the mutual withdrawal of troops from the border and an investigation by a mixed committee provides a means of liquidation of the incident," says Mr. G. E. R. Gedye, the Moscow correspondent of the New York Times.

He adds that considering the disproportion of the forces involved, it is likely that the Finns had the most powerful backing to-day to enable them to declare the Soviet allegations to be absolutely false.