HOPES OF PROGRESS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 25 October 1939, Page 5

HOPES OF PROGRESS

IN SOVIET=FINNISH NEGOTIATIONS

REPORTED MODIFICATION . OF DEMANDS.

MILITARY ALLIANCE NOT SOUGHT BY RUSSIA.

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright, LONDON. October 24. The talks between Finland and Ihe Soviet at Moscow were resinned last evening and lasted two hours and a half. The conversations are to he continued today. In the- talks Ihe representatives ■ were .joined by the Soviet Minister in Helsinki, where it is thought that as only the heads of the delegation took pari there is some hope of progress being made.

The “Daily Mail’s" Helsinki correspondent says it is understood that Russia is no longer claiming the Aaland Islands but merely asks Finland not to fortify them and to remove the present defences. Russia, according to the Moscow radio, has also dropped her demand for a military alliance. She will be content if Finland gives a pledge not to participate in any combination of Powers directed against the Soviet. In Moscow it is stated that, although Russia desires the cession of some small islands in the Gulf of Finland, she does not seek to establish troops on Finnish territory as in Latvia, Estonia, or Lithuania.

According to the official German news agency, the Finnish Foreign Office spokesman today said that the reports from Moscow show that the negotiations are proceeding normally, and that they justify hopes of a -settlement. The agency says that the 1 talks were conducted with MM Stalin and Molotov. \ A Helsinki message stated that the last-minute inclusion of the Minister of Finance and 'leader of the Social '(Democrat Party, M Tanner, in the. delegation means that every shade of Finnish opinion is represented. M Tanner and Dr Paasikivi (leading the delegation) were co-signatories of the Russo-Finnish peace treaty of 19Z0. The departure of the delegation led to renewed tension 'in Finland. Soviet observers are -expressing astonishment at the extent and thoroughness of the Finnish mobilisation and general preparedness. PORT OF MEMEL 1 RETURN TO LITHUANIA. LONDON, October 24. The Riga correspondent of "The Times" says it is reliably reported from Kaunas that . Lithuanian-German negotiations are progressing for Memel’s return to Lithuania for 55 years as part of the bargain in which Germany withdraws from the Baltic in Russia s favour. LOW STANDARD OF EFFICIENCY INDICATED. MOVEMENT INTO ESTONIA. z NEW YORK. October 24. Mr Tolischus, the “New York times” correspondent, in a message from Talinn, discussing the slow- , ness of the Russian entry Unto Estonia, declares there is a growing impression that the Russian military efficiency is not great. Hitches • in the train and marching schedules and breakdowns of motorised units are puzzling. He adds that Russia momentarily is not interested in increasing her present gains and is likely to avoid a smashup in the Baltic zone throughout the war if only to save her prestige and her military and economic efficiency, but the Baltic States are living in fear. There is even a note of anxiety in statesmen’s speeches adjuring Russia to adhere to the basis of the agreements. The fear caused by the threat ot Sovietisation despite M Stalin’s assurances. supported by action similar to that in Vilna, Where Russians are reported to have executed self-appointed Soviet citizens who shot bourgeois leaders before the Russians arrived, but the presence of the Russians is visibly enlivening most of the active radicals. NEW SOVIET DEMANDS FRESH INSTRUCTIONS SOUGHT. (Received This Dav.' 9 a.m.) LONDON, October 24.. The Associated Press of America Moscow correspondent says the Finnish delegation is sending back a representative to Helsinki tonight, for fresh instructions, apparently as the result of new Soviet demands.