MOSCOW ACTION

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20108, 30 November 1939, Page 7

MOSCOW ACTION

ENDING TREATY SOVIET ACCUSATIONS FRONTIER OUTRAGE PRESENCE OF TROOPS “THREAT” TO CITY (Elec. Tel. Copyright —United Press Assn.) (Reed. Nov. 29, 3 p.m.) LONDON. Nov. 23. Messages from- Moscow state that the Soviet note cancelling the nonaggression pact with Finland was a reply to the Finnish note concerning the frontier incident involving the alleged firing of seven shells across the border frontier by Finnish troops on Monday. The official Soviet radio declared that the note consisted of three points. They were: (1) The Finnish denial of the outrage was an attempt to mislead the public and throw the responsibility on the Soviet military. (2) Finland's refusal to withdraw troops unless the Soviet did likewise constituted a hostile act and the desire to maintain Leningrad under a menace. The question of mutual withdrawal could not be discussed, because the Soviet troops were hundreds of kilometres from the Finnish centres and did not threaten any cities. On the contrary. Finnish troops were within 26 miles of Leningrad and constituted a permanent threat. A Russian withdrawal would mean bringing back troops into the suburbs of Leningrad. Obligations of Pact

(3) The concentration of Finnish troops near Leningrad did not comply with the obligations of the nonaggression pact, for which reason the pact was denounced from to-day.

' It is stated in Moscow that the demand made by the Soviet Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, M. Molotov, for the withdrawal of Finnish troops is not an ultimatum as it does not carry a time limit. M. Molotov told the Finnish Minister the reasons for the denunciation of the pact, after which the news was broadcast throughout Russia, coming as a sequel to the anti-Finnish demonstrations throughout the day. A Helsinki message states that the Soviet’s action has shocked Finland. The Foreign Office spokesman described the note as very unconciliatory. He said that it would be studied in detail.