Wants Guarantees Regarding Interpretation

Manawatu Times, Volume 69, Issue 66, 22 March 1944, Page 5

Wants Guarantees Regarding Interpretation

(By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.; Received Tuesday, 11.10 p.m. LONDON, March 21. The Finnish radio tins morning broadcast a Government communique stating that Finland was unable to accept the Russian terms. According to the Berlin radio the Finnish reply rejecting the Russian terms stated that the Government could not accept armistice conditions without guarantees regarding their interpretation. The reply also stated that the Finnish Parliament had been kept fully informed of the negotiations and approved of the Government attitude. The British United Press’s Stockholm correspondent adds: “Moscow’s failure to reply to the Finnish rejection terms is making the people of Helsinki wonder what will happen next. Most oi them believe that it will be bombs. However, a few optimists still believe there will be counter proposals. Thej maintain that as Helsinki has not been bombed for some time the door is still open to negotiations. The Moscow radio last night in a broadcast denied a German radio report of a new Russian raid on Helsinki. Meanwhile the Russian Press has suggested that the present Finnish Government is unsuitable to carry on armistice negotiations which may be read as an appeal over the Government’s head to the Finnish people asking them to get rid of the Government if all else fails. “Although the Finnish Government aspires seriously to the reestablishment of peaceful relations,” adds the communique, “it cannot, however, accept in advance these terms which deeply affect the existence of the whole nation without even getting any safe assurance of the interpretation and meaning of the conditions.” The Finns’ rejection of the Russian armistice terms has caused no surprise except to wishful thinkers, says the British United Press’s Stockholm correspondent. It added nothing to what was already known in informed circles, but it is the first real information that the Finnish public has received since the Finnish announcement which followed the Moscow radio’s broadcast giving the armistice terms. Briefly tbe communique confirms that Finland asked for a clarification of the Russian terms and that Moscow replied that they must he accepted as they stood before negotiations could be started. The Finns declined to accept them. The Finnish Parliament in a secret session on March 14 approved the Government’s decision to ask for clarification.