THREE POINTS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 29 November 1939, Page 6

THREE POINTS

SOVIET NOTE TO FINLAND ALLEGATION OF PERMANENT THREAT. FEARS FOR LENINGRAD. By Telegraph—Press Association-Copyright. (Received This Day, 11.30 a.m.) MOSCOW, November 28. The Soviet Note cancelling the Non-Aggression Pact with Finland, was in reply to a Finnish Note concerning the frontier incident. The official radio declared that the Note consisted of three points. (1) The Finnish denial of the outrage was an attempt to mislead the public, and throw its responsibility on Soviet military exercises. (2) Finland’s refusal to withdraw troops unless the Soviet did likewise constituted a hostile act, and a desire to maintain Leningrad under a menace. The question of a mutual withdrawal could not be discussed because the Soviet troops were hundreds of kilometres from Finnish centres, and did not threaten any cities. On the contrary, Finnish troops were within 20 miles of Leningrad and constituted a permanent, threat. A Russian withdrawal would mean bringing back troops into the suburbs of Leningrad. (3) The concentration of Finnish troops near Leningrad does not comply with the obligations of the NonAggression Pact, for which reason it was denounced from today. M. Molotov’s demand for the withdrawal of Finnish troops is not an ultimatum, as it does not carry a time limit. M. Moltov told the Finnish Minister the reasons for the denunciation of the pact, after which the news was broadcast throughout Russia, coming as a sequel to anti-Finnish demonstrations throughout the day. SOVIET AMBASSADOR CALL AT FOREIGN OFFICE. ’ (Received This Day, 10.55 a.m.) RUGBY, Noveml&r 28. At the invitation of Viscount Halifax. M. Maisky, the Soviet Ambassador in London, called at the Foreign Office yesterday. The conversation was mainly concerned, it is understood, with clarification of the Soviet policy. FINLAND SHOCKED EXAMINATION OF SOVIET NOTE. (Received This Day, 12.55 p.m.) HELSINKI. November 28. The Soviet’s action has shocked Finland. A Foreign Office spokesman described the Note as very unconciliatory. He said it would be studied in-detail.