Allies Want to Put Noose Round Finland’s Neck

Manawatu Times, Volume 69, Issue 66, 21 March 1944, Page 4

Allies Want to Put Noose Round Finland’s Neck

(By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.), Received Monday, 10.40 p.m. LONDON, March DO. Hitler has personally denied report* that Germany has turned to Sweden seeking King Gustav’s mediation in peace talks with the Allies. In a telephone interview with the Berlin correspondent of the Stockholm Tidningen, Hitler said: “This is absolutely false.” Referring to the Finnish situation, Hitler said the Russians merely wanted to put a noose around Finland’s neck. “When it is time they will draw it tight.” Hitler claimed that Britain and America were unable to ask Russia any questions or give any orders to Russia. • ‘ They want to do this, but they cannot. Any British-American guarantee to Finland would be worthless. ’ ’ The London Observer said King Gustav was asked recently to put forward German peace proposals to the Western Allies, but after informal consultations with London he told Hitler that the latter could not count on his good offices. The Observer adds that the German proposals were made originally by Dr. Otto Abetz, former German Ambassador to the Swedish Consul-General, early last month. The German proposals provided for the withdrawal of German troops from Norway, Denmark, Holland, Belgium and France, and the giving up of all claims except in the case of Alsace-Lorraine where it was suggested a mixed administration should be set up. In the East Germany was to agree to an independent Poland although special arrangements were said to be necessary as long as German troops were actively engaged on the Ruslan front. Bohemia and Moravia were to be retained by Germany while Slovakia would remain an “independent” republic. The Manchester Guardian says the German peace feelers were probably merely one of several put out in recent months and which betoken not so much a serious desire to come to terms as an effort to manoeuvre for position.