NOT ADMITTED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20109, 1 December 1939, Page 7

NOT ADMITTED

MOSCOW WAY AGGRESSIVE STEP SOVIET ARMY VIEW QUICK ACTION NEEDED REBUFF TO AMERICA OFFICES DECLINED (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Reed. Dec. 1, 11.40 a.m.) LONDON, Dee. 30. Moscinv reports state that Russia refuses to acknowledge the invasion although the frontier bombardment is increasing. The Finnish legation requested laissez passer, thus far without response. This morning’s radio bulletins in Moscow did not mention the invasion of Finland. A Copenhagen message states that the Soviet fleet could be seen from the Helsinki waterfront. Russian troops were crossing the Karelian border' They tirstly penetrated the strip of land which Finland refused to yield to the S'oviet during the protracted negotiations which broke down on November 13. A_Helsinki correspondent quotes messages from Moscow indicating that the Soviet military authorities were of the opinion that if Finland was to be brought to her knees action must be taken without delay, because the Gulf of Finland would be frozen within a month. The eastern section of the gulf was already freezing. Further Moscow reports state that the offer of the United States Government of its good offices in endeav-

ours to reach an agreement in the Russo-Finnish dispute reached the American Embassy shortly before hostilities opened. It was then stated that the offer would be presented to the Soviet Foreign Office later in the morning.

A Washington message states that the Soviet indicated that it was rejecting the proposal of good offices which was made by the American Secretary of State. Mr. Cordell Hull. The Russian vice-Cqmmissar of Foreign AffaiYs told the American Charge d’Affaires in Moscow when he delivered the offer that the Soviet could see no occasion at present for such good offices.

Senator K. Pittman, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Senator W. E. Borah, condemned Russia’s action and praised the steps taken by Mr. Hull Senator Pittman declared that Russia had created fictitious incidents which were a "prelude and an excuse for conquest ” Both senators had little expectation that Mr. Hull’s move would be successful It is now stated that American diplomats in Russia and Finland were instructed to forward Mr. Hull’s statement to their respective Governments. While the exercise of America’s good offices does not necessarily imply mediation, the latter course would be possible if the msputanls requested it.