EARLIER NEWS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 11 March 1940, Page 7

EARLIER NEWS

ARMISTICE REFUSED BLUSTERING TALK IN NAZI PAPER. SOVIET’S REPORTED DEMANDS. By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright. LONDON, March 9. The Finnish-Soviet negotiations are understood to be reaching their final stages, states a message from Stockholm. The Russians apparently insist that terms of peace be settled before an armistice. The Finns asked for an armistice last week when the negotiations were in their early stages, but this was refused. A message from Amsterdam states German political circles are of opinion that the international political situation is likely to enter a decisive phase as a result of the visit to Rome. All neutral correspondents in Berlin agree that an important aspect of the Finnish peace negotiations is being transferred to Rome. The Helsinki radio announced that Herr Hitler received Dr Svinhufrud today. Vatican authorities in Rome state that the Pope will grant a private audience to Herr von Ribbentrop on Monday. Commenting on the German Minister’s visit to Rome, Field-Marshal Goering’s newspaper, the “National Zeitung,” says: “The negotiations indicate a historic turning-point, which is likely to be more marked than anything that has been experienced for a long time. Germany and Italy are determined not to allow the reactionary alliance to prevent necessary reorganisation of Europe.” The Stockholm correspondent of the British United Press states that direct negotiations between Dr Paasikivi and Madame Kollontay, the Soviet Minister in Stockholm, are beginning there today. The correspondent adds that there are only two specific Russian demands: First, for cession of part of the Karelian Isthmus to guarantee Leningrad’s security, and secondly, some unspecified point near the mouth of the Gulf Of Finland as a naval base to protect Soviet interests. It was reported last night without confirmation that the Finnish military chief, Field-Marshal Mannerheim, had arrived in Stockholm by air from Helsinki to join Dr Paasikivi. As a climax to the day’s rumours comes a report that-important British political personalities have arrived in Stockholm.