SOVIET REJECTS FINNISH PROPOSALS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 December 1939, Page 7

SOVIET REJECTS FINNISH PROPOSALS

Refusal to Recognise Constitutional Government

MINISTERS REMAINING IN HELSINKI NO QUESTION OF PEACE AT ANY PRICE (By Telegraph.—Press Association—Copyright.) MOSCOW, December 5. Moscow radio announced ilia) the Prime Minister. M. .Molotov, replying to the Swedish Minister, M. Winter, who was entrusted with the Finnish proposals lor re-opening the negotiations, said that the Soviet did not recognise “this socalled Government” (the constitutional Finnish Government ) and for this reason the Kremlin could not negotiate with it. Contrary to earlier reports, the Finnish Government is still at Helsinki. In his latest statement Al. Molotov alleged that the Ryti Government had left Helsinki for an unknown destination, but a Helsinki report states that M. I\yti has declared that- the Government will, remain in the capital till it is compelled to leave. It is emphasised by the Finnish Government that the approach to Moscow was not in any sense a surrender, but merely an effort, to find a peaceinl solution satisfactory to both sides. There was no question of peace at any price. A Stockholm message says it is reported from Moscow that the Soviet Government is refusing to allow the Finnish Minister and his wife to leave ‘‘till the last Russian has left Finland.”