HOPE OF PEACEFUL SETTLEMENT WITH RUSSIA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 16 October 1939, Page 5

HOPE OF PEACEFUL SETTLEMENT WITH RUSSIA

Expressed by Foreign Minister NAZIS ATTEMPTING TO MAKE MISCHIEF FALSE STATEMENT REGARDING AAL.AND ISLANDS (By Telegraph.—Press Association.— Copyright.) LOXDOX, October 14. The Berlin official agency announced that Finland has ‘’approved Moscow's suggestions and negotiations are now able to be continued.” A message from Moscow to the “New York Times” says it. is reported without confirmation that the Soviet is asking for a strip of Finnish territory north of Leningrad, with a view to Leningrad’s vulnerability to attack from a power occupying Finland. She is offering in exchange a strip of northern Russian Karelia. German propaganda is most active and is seeking to present a most alarming picture of the Russian-Finnish negotiations. The “New York Times” correspondent, Mr Gedye, in a message from Moscow, says there is ample evidence that the Nazis are using the Bolshevist bogey in an attempt to harness at least the Scandinavians to the Nazi peace chariot. The most flagrant example is a German broadcast suggesting that Russia demanded the surrender of the Aaland Islands. The Russian proposals do not mention the Aalands, explaining why the Finns allow it to be known that the demands, though grave, can be discussed. The German propaganda is clumsy, bid is having some effect on Ihe Scandinavians, who are being bombarded with suggestions that, unless they induce the Allies to suspend military operations, all Lie Scandinavian countries will soon be over-run by Bolshevism. The British United Press correspondent in Helsinki says the Foreign Minister. M. Erkko, in an interview, said: “Finland has every hope of a peaceful and satisfactory RussianFinnish agreement being achieved in a few daysl A defensive alliance, or any alliance with any Power, is out of the question because no neutral country has alliances:' “I myself and my family have made no .personal preparations for an emergency,” he said, “but 1 regard, the situation anxiously. Europe, if no solution is found, faces the greatest catastrophe in her history.” i i The Finnish Government., since Helsinki is a fortified zone on the open sea, may move from there. Troops have been concentrated to defend Finland’s neutrality. The evacuation of civilians is purely voluntary, ensuring that there will be no panic in the event of further evacuation. Finland is completely united. The Right and. Left Wing political organisations, the trade unions and all national organi-. sations, including women, have offered their services. Reservists are being called up throughout Finland. Smaller businesses are closed because of the lack of staff. Tram and bus services are curtailed. The Helsinki prison has been evacuated to Turku and tin l head offices of an oil company to Vaasa. Hundreds of farmers are assisting in the army transport with carts and hoi'ses. Many families are giving watches and jewellery to the national cause.