NO OPEN ATTACK

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 November 1939, Page 5

NO OPEN ATTACK

BUT PRESSURE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE SOVIET TACTICS TOWARDS FINLAND. OCCUPATION OF ISLANDS POSSIBLE. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. : LONDON. November 14. j The “New York Times’ ” 1 Washington correspondent , says that information reachf ing 'Washington indicates that the Soviet intends to maintain i her pressure and keep heavy ! troop concentrations on the Finnish border, but is reluetaut to lose her technical neu- ' trality by an open attack. The financial pressure on Finland is heavy, and it is understood the Russians hope this will eventually force the concessions, otherwise they would use force later if developments elsewhere distracted attention. The correspondent adds that the Reconstruction Finance Corporation in Washington is considering Finland’s application for trade loans through the Export-Import Bank, but it is officially denied that loans are imminent enough to influence’s Finland’s attitude to Russia. Diplomatic circles, however, believe that the expectation of United States’ trade financing coupled with the United States’ moral backing, may have influenced Finland to break the negotiation. States’s moral backing, may have influenced Finland to break the negotiation. Continuing, the correspondent says it is feared that should Germany attack Holland, Russia may take advantage of the situation to act against Finland. This is one of the reasons for the consultation by the United Slates Minister in Holland, Mr Gordon, with Queen Wilhelmina. The Under-Sec-retary of State, Mr Sumner Welles, has also conferred with the Netherlands Minister in Washington, Mr Loudon. ANTICIPATED CAMPAIGN. The view that the Soviet will not attack, but will maintain her pressure is supported by the “New York Times” Moscow correspondent, Mr G. E. R. Gedye. He says it is possible, though unlikely, that the Soviet will occupy islands off the Finnish coast, in the Gulf of Finland, throwing the responsibility for opposition on the Finns. However, pressure is most likely to take the form of a Press and radio campaign, allowing provocation of a series of frontier incidents and keeping the Finns in suspense and mobilised. Reports from British observers indicate that in the Soviet Press, which has been attacking Finland for some days past, there was given yesterday a hint of how Russia hopes eventually to get her way. There are passages about the cost of mobilisation and the loss of revenue to Finland, and it is claimed that Finland is on the brink of ruin, and cannot stand the financial strain.

It is also alleged that the Finnish Government has not informed the Finnish Parliament about the position, in spite of the fact that frequent declarations have been made by the Finnish Foreign Minister stating the lengths to which Finland is prepared to go.