AGAINST SOVIET

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

AGAINST SOVIET

CABINET ADVISERS KEEPING RELATIONS FINLAND’S MESSAGE “WILL FIGHT ALONE” (Reed. . Dec. 4, 9 a.m.) NEW YORK, Dec. 2. The Washington correspondent of the New York Times says that though advisers have been urging it, the Cabinet has decided not to sever diplomatic relations with the Soviet, at least at present. This decision was based on the desirability of avoiding contributing to the war psychosis in the United States and secondly because it was considered that Mr. Roosevelt should maintain relations with all belligerents in order to keep an influential position and exert prestige in facilitating peace whenever the opportunity presents itself.

The Moscow correspondent of the New York Times, Mr. G. E. R. Gedye, says it is 'believed that the withdrawal of the United States Ambassador would open a Russian-American breach and strengthen Japan greatly in the Russian-Japanese negotiations. In a telephone interview with the United Press of America, the new Prime Minister of Finland, Dr. Risto Ryti, said: “We will fight alone. We expect to win. We are obtaining the moral support of Britain and France and hope for diplomatic support. Finland fears that they cannot help materially, because of our isolation. We are still hopeful of a negotiated settlement. Tell the Americans that ‘we will not surrender. The Finns will fight to the last.”

■American and Canadian Finns are mobilising for assistance. The first contingent of at least 100, including some women, are sailing next Saturday.