SOVIET DECLARATION

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20116, 9 December 1939, Page 5

SOVIET DECLARATION

ZONE OF “DANGEROUS WATERS” HELSINKI APPEAL FOR HELP WARNING TO SCANDINAVIAN STATES WIDE DESIGNS OF MOSCOW SUSPECTED DEMONSTRATIONS STIRRING EUROPE (Elec. Tel. Copyright.—United Press Assn.) (Reed. Dec. 8, 10.45 a.m.) LONDON, Dec. 8. A Copenhagen message states that Russia lias declared a complete blockade of Finland, which will be effective at noon on Friday, after which Finnish waters will be “dangerous for nil shipping.” Finland has issued several direct appeals to the world for military aid. The Finnish Foreign Office spokesman, in a statement made at Helsinki yesterday, declared: Russia must win unless Finland receives more than sympathy. Arms and men must be given quickly. The defeat of Finland would mean far more to England and France than the defeat of Poland. “Russia may be Germany’s ally, but what chance has Germany if she wins in the West when Russia waits to devour the winner after helpipg to crush the loser?” A Finnish communique issued last night stated: “The enemy tried to cross the 'Taibela River linking Lakes A nek and Ladoga. We are counter-attacking with artillery. The Russians bombed three villages on the north shore of Lake Ladoga. There were no naval operations of importance. Helsinki was not bombed owing to the thick mists. The attack on Petsamo by the Russians reveals a wider strategy, including the Swedish iron ore fields and the Norwegian icefree port of Narvik. It seems impossible that these Scandinavian States can remain passive spectators to the Finnish drama.” Excellent Camouflage Further Helsinki messages state that the excellent, camouflage employed by .the Finns is resulting in heavy Russian losses on the northern front. The Finns wear white and the Russians are the only soldiers visible at any distance in the snow and for this reason Russian planes are frequently machine-gunning their own troops. According to the Helsinki correspondent of the Copenhagen paper National Tidenaes, an attack occurred off the island of Utoe at midnight on Tuesday. A report from Stockholm says that Finland is reported to have ordered 100 Supermarine Spitfire fighter aeroplanes from Britain. The Moscow correspondent of the New York Times, Mr. G. E. R. Gedye, says that Russia’s blockade of Finland again suggests an unexpected lack of adroitness. “The lines on which the Russian-Finnish conflict is developing indicate that control may escape the Soviet’s hands,” continues the correspondent. “She may find herself involved in a major conflict which experienced circles believe to be the reverse of M. Stalin’s intentions and utterly contradictory to the Soviet’s vital interests.

“It is possible also to consider the article published on "Wednesday by the Communist International stating that the Rumanian minorities are oppressed and urging a mutual assistance pact with the Soviet as evidence of growing recklessness, although the Rumanians stress that the Soviet avoided giying the statement official backing as would have been the case if the article had been published in the newspapers Izvestia or Pravda. It most probably was in the nature of a balloon to observe the Rumanian reaction and to model the Russian policy accordingly. The article can be disowned as one in the Izvestia or Pravda could not, but if it is seen that the Rumanians are seriously alarmed and without backing, it might be followed later by others, more menacing and more authorativc.”

of Oslo Conferenfce

The Scandinavian Foreign Ministers meeting at Oslo issued a communique stating that they had agreed to do their utmost, through the League of Nations, to inaugurate Russian-Finnish peace negotiations. They also discussed the effects of the Soviet-Finnish war on the general situation.

The National Council of Labour has issued in London a statement condemning the Soviet which “professed to lead the world working-class movement and be the guardian of the rights of the people against oppressors. British Labour repudiates these claims and appeals to the free nations to give every practical aid to Finland.”

Popular demonstrations for Finland have occurred in 1 Scandinavia, Brussels, Budapest and Madrid, where the legation was crowded with volunteers. A crowd of 2000 people demonstrated sympathetically before the Italian and Finnish Legations in Budapest, hissing Russia. The Finnish Minister and his staff yesterday left Moscow for Riga by train after a farewell by the diplomats of eight, nations.

HORROR VOICED BRITISH LABOUR SOVIET CONDEMNED UNPROVOKED ATTACK (British Official Wireless.) Reed. 12 noon RUGBY, Dec. 8. The National Council of Labour has issued a manifesto on .the Soviet invasion of Finland. The manifesto states: “The British trade union and Labour movement views with profound horror and indignation the Soviet Government’s unprovoked attack upon a small State with whbm it had made a pact of non-aggression. Not only has the Soviet Government violated 'its Own treaty obligations towards Finland. It has sought also to secure possession by armed force of strategic on Finnish territory which would ipienace the freedom and

security of other States around the Baltic and is now apparently seeking forcibly to incorporate Finland within the U.S.S.R.

“A Soviet imperialism has thus revealed itself as using the same methods as the Nazi power against which the British working class lias united in war.”

The manifesto concludes: “On the eve of fiie meeting of the League Council, Labour calls upon the free nations of the world to concert measures for giving all practicable aid to the Finnish nation in its struggle to preserve its own institutions of civilisation and democracy.”