NO ULTIMATUM

Wairarapa Times-Age, 16 October 1939, Page 5

NO ULTIMATUM

STATEMENT BY FINNISH MINISTER FRIENDSHIP WITH RUSSIA DESIRED. REJECTION OF MILITARY ALLIANCE. The Finnish delegation has returned lo Helsinki from Moscow, a radio message reports. A Government spokesman in Helsinki admitted that there bad been a divergence of opinion, but said that it was likely that negotiations would be resumed this w,eek. He is reported as saying, "When one negotiates it takes time; when one dictates time goes quickly.” No official indication of what Russia's demands on Finland might be had been received in Finland, a Helsingfors message stated yesterday, but official circles in Finland believed they would include at least the following three:—(1) The use of Finnish islands in the Gulf'of Finland; (2) a military alliance; (3) status quo in the Aaland Isles and Russian supervision to ensure that they would remain unfortified. The Finnish Foreign Minister, in an

interview, said that no ultimatum had been presented to Finland by the Soviet Government. If it had been." Finland would not have given way to it. He added that the belligerent Powers had given assurances to Finland that they would respect her neutrality. Any sort of military alliance with Russia was out of the question. Finland would do everything in its power to remain friendly .with Russia, and the Soviet Government had the same desire, or at least that was the impression he had gained. Finland, had taken certain precautions, he said, which were not directed against any country. Every nation had its own problem and it was up to them to find' a solution as a contribution to peace. Finland was striving to find that solution. NORDIC UNITY MEETING OF SCANDINAVIAN RULERS. LONDON. October 14. ■ The Danish newspaper, “Nationaltidende," recalling Scandinavian neutrality in the last war, says the meetings of Scandinavian rulers convened by King Gustav, of Sweden, will again show that the Nordic countries acknowledge their unity, and indicate chat an attack against one would be felt as an attack on all.