1939-11-28 — Page 9

THE CHINA MAIL, NOVEMBER 28, 1939

Finland's Reply To

To Soviet Demands: Ready To Withdraw

IF SOVIET ARE PREPARED TO WITHDRAW ALSO

Helsinki, To-day.

M. ERKKO, FINNISH Foreign Minister, re-affirms that the Finnish frontier is, and has been, quiet and that the Finns are doing nothing to disturb this state of affairs.

The Finnish Government was to meet yesterday to discuss the Soviet demands in connection with the alleged incident and is expected to forward a formal reply immediately. Reuter.

Paris, To-day. FINLAND HAS AGREED to withdraw her troops 25 kilometres from the Soviet frontier if the Soviet troops are withdrawn a similar distance, accord- ing to a Helsinki dispatch.—Reuter.

GERMAN BACKING OF RUSSIA

(SPECIAL TO "CHINA MAIL")

Paris, To-day.

Helsinki, To-day.

The Finnish reply to the Soviet note which was delivered in Moscow last night states that careful investigations have shown that no shot was

fred from the Finnish side of the frontier, but that seven cannon shots were heard from the Soviet side.

The Finnish Government is prepar- ed to appoint a joint committee to investigate the Soviet charges and is willing to discuss the possibility of withdrawing its troops 12 miles from the frontier-provided the Soviet is

not

The Paris press widely prepared to adopt similar measures. comments on the renewed satisfaction that the Soviet does

The Finnish Government notes with Soviet outbreak resulting want to exaggerate the importance of from the alleged frontier in- the incident and concludes: cident.

"Pertinax," writing in "L'Ordre," stresses that Finland does not cun- sider the Soviet note an ultimatum. "They believe that the object be- hind the note is to obtain a resump- tion of the negotiations which were adjourned sine die on November when, after six weeks of negotiations, the Russians and the Finns had nothing more to tell each other.

"If the Finns now accept the So- viet demand they will be placing themselves at Stalin's mercy."

GERMANY'S PART

9

been

"Finland is pleased to have able to remove the misunderstanding on the day following the receipt of the Soviet note."--Reuter.

RUSSIAN PRESS BEING WORKED INTO FRENZY

Moscow, To-day.

The Russian press in being work- ed up into a frenzy over the alleged killing of four Russian soldiers by Finnish practice artillery fire. De- spite the flat Finnish denial that any such incident occurred, the Soviet press has begun a new campaign - of threats.

ernment,

The Soviet press goes into a hysteri- Examining the Reich's attitude, he cal denunciation of the Finnish Gov-

to says: "Germany hardly attempts hide her assistance to the Soviet. Hitler does not hesitate to offer Rus- sia the recuperation of her former frontiers and at present tries to bring about

this territorial change, hoping for Russia's gratitude." Havas.

GERMANY MOVES IN MOSCOW

PROTEST MEETINGS Russian workers' groups are being organized into protest meetings, one meeting passing a resolution demand- ing the withdrawal of Finnish troops from the important fortified area Karelia-which was the subject one of the original Soviet demands on Finland.

of

Other meetings re-echo the old Nazi cry of their patience being exhausted. -Reuter.

PORTUGUESE

MISSION IN LONDON

His

London, To-day. Majesty's Government

en-

Stockholm, To-day. Germany is reported to have made demarches to So-tertained a Portuguese Military Mis- sion at luncheon yesterday. Mr. Hore- viet Russia and Finland re- Belisha, the. War Secretary, presided: commending an early settle--British Wireless. ment of the questions at is- no shot was fired from the Finnish sue between them.

side of the frontier and is thought

It is considered here that that Fin- that probably Russian guns were res- nish reply to the Soviet note will pro-ponsible but that the Russians be- bably request the Soviet to agree to lieved in good faith that the Finns an impartial investigation of the al-were responsible. leged shelling, incident.

Despite the seriousness of the latest development, the Finne do not believe that peace is imme. diately threatened. It is emphas- fsed that the Soviet note did, not form an ultimatum and did not odntain 'a tima-limit.

SPY SCARE

caused Uneasiness has been

in that a number Helsinki by reports of persons have been arrested fol- lowing the discovery of an extensive spy organisation.

According to the "Afton Bladet" correspondent, at least one Finnish

Router. The Finnish Command insists that officer was involved.

Finnish Infantry moving up to attack under cover of a smoke scraan. (Copyright, Fox).

Finnish soldiers are used to Arctic conditions. Their clothing is not only warm-being white it acts as camouflage. (Copyright, Fox).

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