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Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20111, 4 December 1939, Page 7

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AIMS OF SOVIET TERMS REVEALED | PACT WITH REBELS | CONCESSIONS OF LAND PUPPET GOVERNMENT | SEAT IN NO MAN’S LAND r ' (Eleu Tel. Copyright—United Presß Assn.) (Reed. Dec. 4, 11 a.m.) LONDON, Dec. 3. The Finns claim that the Terjoki puppet Government controls only a few square miles of no man’s land in front of tiic Finnish lines. The British United Press’ Moscow correspondent says that the establishment of a puppet Government at Terjoki unmistakably revealed the Soviet war aims. If M. Kussinen succeeds in obtaining control of Finland with the aid of the Red Army, he will establish a regime similar to that in Outer Mongolia, which is legally sovereign but politically and economically is linked up with the Soviet. The Moscow correspondent of the New York Times, Mr. G. E. R. Gedye, bitterly and satirically reviews the Russian press and radio reports of the formation of a Finnish Peoples’ Government. which is almost the only news of live invasion of Finland given to the Russians. , The programme for Finland is alleged to be broadcast from a radio but the whereabouts of the station are left to the imagination. Despite this transparent fiction, the programme is most important as it reveals the Soviet's plans for Finland and doubtless many other countries. I Insignificant Village Mr. Gedye point: old that the “Government” has be*... ....ablished at Terjoki, which is an insignificant seaside village of 2000 inhabitants, just within the Finnish frontier. He adds that this association of persons on the outermost fringe of Finland, under the protection of the invading armies, is dignified by the imposing title of the "People’s Government of the Finnish Democratic Republic.’’ By what democratic process the “government’’ emerged, the broadcast does not explain. It only asserts that ;t was created by the will of the Finnish people from whom, says Mr. Gedye, it is separated by the Red Army, adding that the part of the Finnish Army which is alleged to have joined the People’s Government are presumably the prisoners taken in Terjoki. The Soviet Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, M. Molotov, informed the American Ambassador, Mr. Steinliardt, that Russia would not negotiate with the Helsinki Government owing to the inclusion of M. Tanner, but was prepared to conclude an agreement with the Terjoki Government. Terms of Armistice The Soviet indicated through the medium of a proclamation by the Finnish Communist Party that she would consider an armistice on the following terms: — (1) The formation of a Democratic People’s Government. This presumably involves the recognition of the Terjoki puppet Government. (2) The conclusion of a pact of mutual assistance based on the Soviet demands before the war. (3) Changes in the structure of the Finnish State and economic life, but “by no means the sovietisation of Finland.” A later Moscow message states that it has been officially announced that the Soviet recognised and was •establishing diplomatic relations with the Terjoki Government. Pact of Mutual Assistance The Finnish Puppet Government has signed a pact of mutual assistance and friendship with the Soviet as a result of negotiations between M. Molotov, M. Stalin, Marshal Voroshilov and M. Zhdanov on the one hand, and M. Otto Kussinen on the other. The pact is immediately effective. It declares that the parties are convinced that the hostilities are being carried on for the benefit of the Imperialists, for which reason the pact has been concluded to ensure the territorial integrity of Russia and Finland. It is provided that the Russian Government will lease Hanko with adjoining territory for naval and military bases. Russia cedes to Finland 23.330 square miles of Karelia. Besides moving back the frontier _to the west of Leningrad, thus ceding 1300 square miles to the Soviet, for which .£OOO,OOO will be paid in the form of compensation to the Finnish “republic.” th« Soviet also buys for £1,500,000 eight islands in the Gulf of Finland and the northern Finnish peninsulas The signatories will assist each other it the event of a third Power’s aggression, and will not conclude any treaty with a third Power directed against either signatory. An economic convention will be concluded providing for an annual turnover of £4,000,000. The Soviet will sell Finland cheap arms. The treaty will be valid for a quarter of a century and may be renewed for a similar period if not denounced at a year's notice.