FINLAND RESOLUTE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 October 1939, Page 7

FINLAND RESOLUTE

WILL NOT BOW TO FOREIGN TYRANT Problem For The Entire North NO ASSISTANCE EXPECTED FROM GREAT POWERS •GRAVITY OF THE SITUATION EMPHASISED (By Telegraph.—Press Association. —Copyright.) LONDON, October 11. A message from Helsinki states that well-informed circles in the Finnish capital refuse to be alarmed despite the planned evacuation of one-fourth of the inhabitants today and one-fourth tomorrow, besides the evacuation of Viborg, Tammerfors and Aabo. This confidence may be due to reports that the Russian troops are gradually being, withdrawn from the Latvian frontier. In the meantime six long trains have left Helsinki for the north, with 10,000 evacuees while buses are crowded with women and children also departing. \ Finland maintains its vow that it will not bow to a foreign tyrant. It is generally recognised that the Moscow negotiations arc a problem not only for Finland but also for the entire north, because if the Soviet makes unacceptable demands on Finland she cannot, nor can her associates, expect assistance from the Great Powers. * The Finnish Minister of the Interior, M. Kekkonen, last night emphasised the gravity of the situation. He admitted .that Finland has not actually mobilised, but he stressed the importance of such military measures as Finland has taken because they are a consequence of the need to maintain Finnish integrity throughout the Moscow negotiations, specially as it is felt that .Britain does not desire neutral Russia to side with Germany. It was announced today that the Stock Exchange has been closed indefinitely.

’ TREATY SIGNED SOVIET AND LITHUANIA. j THE TRANSFER OF VILNA. . ; MOSCOW, October 11. The official news agency - says that ’ a Russian-Lithuanian mutual assist- ! ance treaty has been signed, and that it provides for the transfer of the city of Vilna and the Vilna district in the north of Poland to Lithuania. The treaty is valid for 15 years. It grants Russia the right to maintain land and air forces of strictly limited strength on Lithuanian territory. The treaty does not affect either sovereign rights or forms of government and economic and social systems. Each country agrees not to participate in any alliance or coalition against the other. MUTUAL AID FURTHER TREATY POINTS. (Received This Day, 9 a.m.) MOSCOW, October 11. The full text of the Russian-Lith-unian treaty includes a clause promising mutual assistance in the event of aggressian or threat of aggression. Moreover the Soviet undertakes to supply Lithuania with armaments and military equipment on favourable terms. Russia and Lithuania undertake to jointly maintain the frontiers of Lithuania, for which purpose the Societ is granted the right to maintain armed forces in Lithuania at her own expense. The strength and location of these forces is to be reguated by special agreements. Other clauses are as cabled. Unless denounced in its fourteenth year the treaty will be valid for a further 10 years. LITHUANIA REJOICES OVER RECOVERY OF VILNA. (Received This Day, 10.0 a.m.) KAUNAS, October 11. All buildings are beflagged to celebrate the return of Vilna. Mass demonstrations and military parades are being held in Kaunas. Rejoicings are reported throughout Lithuania. Lithuania is confident that the western powers will recognise the return of Vilna, as the League of Nations several times condemned the Polish seizure of it. The Hague Court also recognised Lithuania's right in 1931. j CABINET RESIGNS I CHANGE IN ESTONIA. I NEGOTIATOR WITH SOVIET TAKING OFFICE. / TALLINN, October 11. The Estonian Cabinet has resigned. It is understood that the new Premier will be Professor Uluots, who participated in the Soviet-Estonian negotiations in Moscow. General Laidoner, the Estonian army chief, has accepted an invitation by the Soviet Defence Commissar, Marshal Voroshiloff, to visit Moscow. PROMISE OF REFORMS PROPOSALS TO DEMOCRATISE INSTITUTIONS. (Received This Day. 10.5 a.m.) TALLINN, October 11. Professor Uluot’s Government, which consists chiefly of members of the Opposition, plans to democratise Estonian i institutions and to introduce social : reforms and change foreign policy. I - -

SOVIET ADVANCE

AWAKENING GRAVE FEARS IN SCANDINAVIA t — BOLSHEVISATION OF BALTIC SERIOUS DANGER SEEN TO ALL : EUROPE. i I By Telegraph— Press Association—Copyright. LONDON. October 11. Scandinavia is watching the Boishevisation of the Baltic with growing anxiety, says a message 1 from Stockholm. The “Svenska Dagbladet,” expressing the opinion that the war may bring Communism to Germany and Scandinavia, stresses the necessity for the effective strengthening of Swedish defences, specially naval. The Copenhagen “National Tidende” similarly recognises in' Moscow’s advance a grave danger, not merely- to ; the Baltic States, but to the whole of j Europe, including the Western Powers. 1 British residents are leaving Finland. | whose people are anxiously awaiting the definition of the country’s attitude toward Moscow’s march. The Soviet demands are reported to include rectification of the Finnish frontier on the Leningrad isthmus and »the right to establish a naval base at the White Sea port of Petsamo. Germany is continuing the evacuation of her nations from the Baltic states with such speed that the evacuees are allowed to take only clothes and no other property, Fourteen ships are at present engaged in the evacuation. GERMANY GIVING WAY. The Rome wireless reflects Italy’s uneasiness. It .is stated Lhat either the Germans have given the Soviet a free hand or have been compelled to bow to Russian expansion. The Rome correspondent of the Associated Press of Great Britain understands that Italy is doing her utmost to form a neutral bloc strong enough to withstand the Russian demands. Reports from Bucharest indicate that Russia is proceeding with the ruthless uommunisa.t’ion of the Polish territories. Trains filled with Polish officials and army officers and their families are proceeding to Siberia and others parts of the Soviet Empire, where it is presumed they will be imprisoned. All property belonging to artistocratic families is being confiscated. The Tass Agency in Moscow announces that the Polish Ukraine will elect a national assembly on October 22 whiclf will proceed to establish a Soviet republic and will approve the confiscation of landed estates and their re-distribution among the peasantry. The “Pravda” justifies the Lithuanian treaty on the ground that Poland seized Vilna by force. It recalls that only a Soviet threat to denounce the non-aggression treaty prevented Poland from invading Lithuania in the spring of 1938. FINNS REACH MOSCOW (Received This Day. 10.5 a.m.) MOSCOW, October 11. The Finnish delegations have arrived. They were met by Soviet officials and the Finnish and .Scandinavian Ambassadors.