ISSUES AT STAKE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 5 December 1939, Page 5

ISSUES AT STAKE

FATE OF OTHER NATIONS DEPENDENT ON THAT OF FINLAND M. RYTI'S DECLARATION. NO ADVANCE PROMISES OF AID. NEW YORK, December 3. The new Finnish Prime Minister, M. Ryti, broadcasting throughout the United States, said that Finland will continue the struggle, however unequal, lie denied that Finland had received in advance promises of aid or advice to light. He said lie was convinced ■ that “whatever is our fate, through our fight and sufferings, we are furthering the creation of a better world. In defending her own liberty Finland believes she is defending the liberty of nations not immediately threatened. "If Finland should perish it would be only because the civilised nations have not the necessary solidarity to enable protection of the weak from violence.” he continued. “Neutrals may not be allowed to be indifferent to the fate of other neutrals. Indifference of this kind would be digging the grave of the nations desiring to build their existence on justice and a respect of laws, but whose means are inadequate to resist a superior invader."

! RADIO REPORTS 1 FIGHTING STILL IN PROGRESS ROUND PETSAMO. i FORTIFICATION OF A A LAND ’ ISLANDS.. The following Daventry reports have ’ been rebroadcast by New Zealand | national stations: — 5 Figliting is still in progress around • Petsamo, where 3,000 Russians have ’ been landed. The lighting during the • last four days has been in the region : of the nickel mines, which are stated so far to be undamaged. The civil ‘ populated has departed. i There has been a lid] of fighting in ■ the south, due mainly to the weather 1 conditions. The heavy snow is assisl- : ing the Finns. Concealed mines are being laid everywhere and are calching the Russians at every turn. The Finns claim to have captured 18 tanks and made 7(H) prisoners at 1 Terijoki. The Finns slide that the Russian use of parachutes for landing troops is a complete failure. The Russians are disposed of as soon as they land. The Finnish Government intends to remain in Helsinki. Meetings of Cabinet are held in an underground cellar of a bank. The Russians claim to have made an advance of 25 miles into Finland at one point. "Brothers in Crime" is the Cairo description of Hitler and Stalin. Press reports reveal that the impression is being created in . Germany that the bogus Government set tip by Russia in Finland is actually the consti tu tionn 1 G< ivorjirm.’i 11 inland has l’ivoji notice to lhe League of Nations that she intends to fortily the Aaland Islands. In May I last she asked the League to approve! this step, but the application was op-1 posed by Rus.-ia, The decision is now j .taken in view of the new situation created by the Russian invasion.