Feeling That Things Are Moving

Manawatu Times, Volume 69, Issue 54, 7 March 1944, Page 5

Feeling That Things Are Moving

(By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) Received Tuesday, 1 a.ra. LONDON, March 6. The Stockholm newspaper Morgen Tidningen says informed quarters in Helsinki state that Mr. Passikivi is not going to Stockholm but is expected to travel east with a view to negotiations. Decisive events are expected in Helsinki soon. Political quarters in Stockholm are slightly more optimistic about the successful outcome of the Russo-Finnish peace moves, having the feeling that things are moving, says Reuter’s Stockholm correspondent. The following new factors have emerged, making the position look more hopeful: Firstly, clarification of the fact that Britain and American were not only informed about the terms, but that certain British modifications were even inserted in them. This has made a considerable impression in Helsinki and has enabled the more reasonable Finns to argue that it equalled an Anglo-American guarantee. The reaction of the British Press has also impressed the Finnish leaders. Secondly, unofficial pressure from Sweden, whose attitude has been made clear in Press comments urging the Finns not to throw a chance away. Thirdly, alleged pressure by . the United States. Yesterday’s Stockholm newspapers report that a certain change of tone is noticable in the Finnish Press. The first unanimously negative attitude to the Russian terms has been replaced by a more constructive attitude. The British United Press Stockholm correspondent says that Finland still appears to be making up her minu about Moscow’s peace terms. It is felt in Stockholm that she is trying through a third party to obtain modification of certain clauses. A significant event inside Finland is the swinging over of the Social Democrat Party, Finland’s largest political body, from support of the war to favouring peace. According to information from Finland received in Stockholm the Finnish Government intends to bargain in order to protract its policy of wait and see, says the Moscow iadio. The Finnish Government, it is reported, hopes to obtain if only tacitly Berlin’s consent to her withdrawal from the war. In this connection the point relating to the interment of General Dietl’s forces xinland considered with other points unacceptable.