DEMANDS ON FINLAND.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 3 November 1939, Page 4

DEMANDS ON FINLAND.

J-JOW far lhe Soviet means to go in pressing its demands on Finland has yet to appear. On the details now made public it is apparent, however. that tin* Russian demands in their present shape constitute an attack on Finnish independence. It is equally clear that Russia can have no just or valid reason for demanding more of Finland than that country has declared itself willing to concede. With the full support, of her Scandinavian neighbours, Finland is refusing to become a Russian protectorate, but her Government has declared that she will never allow a third Power to use her territory in a manner inimical to Russia.

Suggestions that Russia is under I lie necessity ol securing an alteration of her frontier with Finland in order to safeguard Leningrad obviously are fantastic. The actual aim ol the Soviet no doubt is to establish its naval supremacy in the Northern Baltic. That aim may be inspired in part by a fear that it may not be possible to keep Germany enclosed indefinitely in the bonds which have meantime been imposed upon her in the Baltic region and elsewhere. In any case it is obvious that Finland has every interest, in maintaining her neutrality and that any attempt by the Soviet to enforce the terms outlined by M. Molotov and reported yesterday would amount outrageous ai’' a' )” : r dile act of ae ess’ i As '' ■’ ■ “'lp4n :