FINLAND AND RUSSIA

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20114, 7 December 1939, Page 5

FINLAND AND RUSSIA

HISTORY OF RELATIONS CENTURY-OLD BORDER NON-AGGRESSION PACT (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. The following points relating to the present situation between Finland and Russia are set out by the Consul for Finland in Sydney, Mr. Paavo Simelius. in a letter datecT November 30, to Mr. H. J. Buck, vice-consul for Finland in New Zealand: — (1) Peace between Finland and the Soviet was made in 1920, at Dorpat, when both States agreed on a centuryold borderline in those parts, where the Rusisans are making claims now. (2) A non-aggression pact between these States was signed in 1932 and renewed in 1934, and was to be in force until 1945. (3) Finland was not a result of the last world war, because it already had full autonomy during the 110 years it belonged to Czarist Russia. The Czar of Russia was at the same time Grand Duke of Finland, but Finland, unlike the present Baltic States and Poland, had its own laws, diet, monetary system, etc. (4) The Finnish people form a national unity and there does not exist a Russian minority in Finland.

Mr. Simelius added: “I have not received any information from my Government, but I am quite convinced the Russian accusation that Finnish soldiers are guilty of a frontier violation is utterly untrue.”