1940-03-09 — Page 7

THE CHINA MAIL, MARCH 9, 1940

SHROUDED IN MYSTERY Truth About Finn-Soviet Peace Moves Obscure

SWEDISH PAPER

CRITICAL OF INITIATIVE

LONDON, TO-DAY.

AS FAR AS BRITAIN IS CONCERNED, THE REPORT- ED FINNISH-SOVIET PEACE NEGOTIATIONS ARE STILL “SHROUDED IN MYSTERY.” Matters were carried a little further yesterday afternoon ' when the Swedish paper "Aftonbladet" reported a

FRENCH WAR AID TO FINLAND

(SPECIAL TO "CHINA_MAIL")

Paris, To-day.

It is reported from a reliable source that France has already sont Finland 175 planes, 496 guns, 796,000 shells, 5,000 Lewis guns, 200,000 grenades and 20,- 000,000 cartridges—Havas.

IF MOVE FAILS

HELSINKI COMMENT: WHAT OF THE ARMY?

Stockholm, To-day. Reports from Helsinki indicate that if the peace fail the

telephone conversation with Finnish Foreign Minister ATTACKS ON negotiations

Tanner, quoting him as saying that the Finnish Gov ernment had been in contact with Moscow through VIBORG

a go-between. This contact had not been broken.

Apparently, the go-between was established, technical-

ly at any rate, in Stockholm, but reports from that

city now state that the reported Finnish delegates,

M. Passikivi and M. Svinhufud, have left.

The latter is said to be going to Italy for "a rest." M. Passikivi's destina- tion is not mentioned.

Some reports bring Germany into the picture, especially in view of the reported conversation with Hitler and Ribbentrop a few days ago of Sven Hedin, the Swedish explorer. It has, of course, long been known that the Nazis would like the Finnish war to end, as it prevents their getting sup- plies from Russia, but the Nazis are not saying anything.

ITALIAN

SURVIVORS'

STORIES

London, To-day.

CONTINUE ALL DAY

Helsinki, To-day.

A communique states that enemy pressure against the north-west shore of Viborg Bay continued all day but the attacks were repulsed.

The communique details attacks be- tween Viborg Bay and Vuoksen, south of Vuosalmi, at Taipale and north- east of Lake Ladoga, and claims they were all repulsed,

stated that at Kollaanjoki the

The Italian ship Amelia Lauro, which was bomb-Russians left about 2,000 killed on the know whether or not Sweden took fed and set on fire on battlefield. — Reuter.

The Swedish newspaper “Social- Demokraten" sayq that it does not

the initiative in the negotiations.

"The interest of Scandinavia are for

an honourable peace," says the paper, "but if Finland cannot get an honour-

able peace it would be better for the

war to go on."-Reuter.

Swedish Legation In Moscow Silent

(SPECIAL TO "CHINA MAIL")

Moscow, To-day.

The Swedish Legation here refuses to make any statement regarding the rumours of Swedish mediation in the Finnish war.

Competent Russian quarters declare they know nothing of the rumours, which they consider "hardly, likely."

Havas.

Telephones Restored

Stockholm, To-day.

be-

It was officially stated yesterday that telephone communication tween Stockholm and other European capitals was to be restored last night. --Reuter.

German Silence

not the

Amsterdam, To-day. The German Government has yet permitted any mention in press of the Russo-Finnish peace negotiations.

The Nazi newspapers, however, are giving much prominence to reports from northern Europe accusing the Allies of preparing to land troops in Scandinavia. Reuter.

Italian Press Welcome

Rome, To-day.

Thursday night by Nazi 'planes, was carrying Bri- PEIPING tish coal to Italy.

Bri-P

One of the crew of 30 was killed, the others were saved but lost most of their possessions.

One member of the crew said:-

"We were not in convoy. We were showing many lights, In fact, we were all lights, and the flag could be seen clearly-but the 'plane attacked us from only 30 feet away."

Three of the rescued men wounded.—Reuter.

CORONEL MINE DISASTER

were

(SPECIAL TO "CHINA MAIL")

SANTIAGO, TO-DAY. DETAILS OF THE CORONEL

TRAGEDY. COAL MINE

SHOW THAT OVER 300 MİNERS, WERE KILLED IN THE EXPLOSION AND THE ENSUING FIRE.

The disaster was the worst in the mining history of Chile. Out of 500 | men working in the mines, 100 are safe, 98 are seriously injured and the remainder are either dead or missing. Damage is estimated at 300,000,000 pesos.

The Italian press welcomes. the President Pedro Cerda Aguirre and Russo-Finnish mediation attempts and other high officials have left Santiago sees in them the possibility of peace | for Coronel. Havas. in Finland and the elimination of one

danger to Europe as a whole.-Reuter. EMERGENCY RAFTS

BRITISH VOLUNTEERS

IN FINLAND

London, To-day. The Finnish Legation in London states that some of the British con- tingent of volunteers for Finland are already in that country and the rest will go as soon as possible-Reuter.

NOW COMPULSORY

London, To-day. Henceforth emergency rafts or simi- lar appliances sufficient to carry all persons on board, must be carried on ships voyaging in waters around Bri- tain, according to rules announced by the Minister of Shipping last night.— Reuter.

FIRE LOSS

PEIPING, TO-DAY.

IT IS LEARNED THAT THE MA- JORITY OF SHOPS IN PEIPING'S FAMOUS FLOWER STREET, WHICH WAS GUTTED BY FIRE, WERE UNDERWRITTEN BY FOREIGN IN- SURANCE COMPANIES WHO WILL HAVE A TOTAL LOSS OF $500,000 LOCAL CURRENCY.

British companies will pay out about $200,000 of this snm.

Finns may exert every effort and take new ini- tiatives with the aid of the promised foreign help.

The Finnish statesmen who have been in Stockholm have now left. Ex-President Svinhufvud and M.

Passikivi are also understood to have.

left."

Observers here say it is obvious that many others are involved beside members of the Finnish Government

and the Soviet leaders.

.

There is, for instance, the Finnish army. The position of a government which agreed to terms not approved by the Finnish army would be diff- cult.

ALLIED ATTITUDE

There is the attitude of Sweden, Germany, and Britain and France. This last factor is one which is par- of ticularly occupying the attention Sweden.

Meanwhile

Finland's military situation does not seem entirely reassuring, despite the optimistic tone of the communiques, 20

If the negotiations break down, it is thought that Finland's existence with must depend on the rapidity which she receives effective foreign ald-Reuter,

STRUCK BY A ROCK

A Chinese woman was seriously in- jured yesterday afternoon while cutting grass in the New Territories, when a large rock fell on ber The destruction through the fire also head. She was admitted to the Kow- means a virtual stoppage of the trade loon Hospital. Her condition is said in valuables such as jades, ivories and to be serious.

Peiping glass, for which Flower

Street was the main centre and from

which the majority of foreign export-

ers, obtain suppliès.

WOMAN MURDERED

This is quite a serious blow to Pei- The corpse of a Chinese woman, was ping as curios and art objects are found floating off Shek-O ́yesterday. one of the few commodities which are The hands and feet were bound and still being exported. Reuter, there was a stab wound in the thigh.

Here's Luck!

EWO

BEER