HITLER’S PROMISES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 September 1941, Page 6

HITLER’S PROMISES

FAILING TO HOLD FINNS RYTI LEADING MOVEMENT FOR PEACE. REFUSAL TO VISIT BERLIN. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 12.20 p.m.) LONDON, September 3. “Hitler has promised to .give Finland Leningrad and all Russian Karelia if she continues to fight against the Soviet,” says the “Express” foreign editor. ’’Despite this offer, there is growing evidence that Finland will soon seek peace with Russia. The Helsinki newspaper ‘Helsingin Sanomat’ declares ■ that the capture of Viborg means that the war, from the Finnish viewpoint, has ended.” The “Express” foreign editor adds that M. Ryti is now leading the popular demand for peace. M. Ryti refused to accept from Hitler the Grand Cross of the Order of the German Eagle, because acceptance of the decoration would have committed him to support the continuance of the war. To hitler’s invitation to visit Berlin, M. Ryti replied, in effect: “Yes —after the war.” This is a serious setback to the Germans, who, with showers of threats, promises and iron crosses, are trying to keep the Finns in the fight. M. Ryti at first favoured an “anti-Bol-shevik crusade,” but Finland’s heavy losses —more than 50 per cent greater than in the Russian-Finnish war of 1939—have made this policy unpopular.