Evening star. [volume], November 01, 1939, Page A-5, Image 5

About Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972

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Molotoff Talk Brings
Widely Divergent
Reactions
Scandinavians Gloomy;
Nazis 'Pleased'; British
Cite Soviet Neutrqlity
•r tht AMOClated Preu
Soviet Russia’s foreign policy as
outlined by Premier-Foreign Com
missar Vyacheslaff Molotoff pro
duced widely divergent reactions in
Britain and Germany and cast
gloom over Scandinavia.
Molotoff’s warning to Finland to
come to terms with Russia shocked
public opinion in nearby Scandi
navia. Newspaper editorials were
cautions, but commentators agreed
In describing the situation as “omi
nous." The feeling was that Rus
sia. having once broadcast her terms
to the world, would not modify them.
Germans "Highly Pleased.”
Authorised German sources ex
pressed themselves as highly pleased
with the address before the Supreme
Soviet Council. Anybody who be
lieved Germany was "disappointed”
was completely mistaken, they said.
Official Germany was evidently
especially satisfied with Molotoff’s
analysis of causes which led to the
European conflict, his assertion that
.restitution of Poland and the al
leged fight for ideologies were mere
excuses by Britain and France.
There was an official silence in
Britain regarding the speech, but
British newspaper headlines de
clared, "The Soviet Is Neutral.”
“Packet of Words.”
It was apparent from the tenor
of the press and private comment
that the British regarded Molotoff's
remarks as offering Germany “a
packet of words and very little else”
and that they £eel it leaves Russia
committed to a position of neu
Observers studied the speech in
the light of current moves to bring
about a trade agreement between
Britain and Russia and the expres
sion in Soviet circles in London of
hope that such a pact soon would
be concluded.
Great Britain has carefully avoid
ed ruffling Russia's feelings in her
diplomatic dealings ever since the
war began.
Mixed Reaction in Tokio.
In circles close to the Japanese
government the speech produced
mixed reactions.
Proponents of closer Russia-Japa
Uese ties hailed Molotoff’s references
to Japan as "an encouraging sign
that the long friction soon will be
completely removed” and predicted
success for trade negotiations.
Other highly placed Japanese,
however, described Molotoff's speech
M "lukewarm,” and “ambiguous.”
Moscow
(Continued From First Page.)
up to the middle of September, bat
tles “sometimes of a very sanguinary
character" took place between Japa
nese-Manchukuoan and Soviet
Mongolian troops.
"This absolutely unnecessary con
flict,” he said, "exacted rather heavy
casualties on our side and casualties
several times heavier on the Japa
nese-Manchurian side.
"Finally, Japan made proposals to
terminate the conflict, and we will
ingly met the Japanese government's
wishes.”
Trade Pact Suggested.
Molotoff said the next step toward
Improvement of Russian-Japanese
relations would be settlement of
frontier questions.
"In addition,” he reported, “the
possibility has been established of
starting Soviet-Japanese trade nego
tiations. It must be admitted that
the' development of Soviet-Japanese
trade is in the Interests of both
countries.”
Adding that it was difficult to
Judge development of this "tend
ency,” Molotoff said, “we look with
favor on Japanese overtures of this
kind.”
Commenting on Molotoff's speech,
the Communist party newspaper
Pravda said today: "Lying pen-push
ers (referring to sections of the for
eign press) are trying to poison our
relations with Finland.
- “The Soviet proposals to Finland
ate just and noble.”
it ended oy declaring, "we are
striving to strengthen and shall
strengthen the safety of Leningrad,
the cradle of the great Socialist rev
olution.”
New Delegations Cheered.
Delegates from the Russian oc
cupied half of former Poland were
given a rousing welcome by a spe
cial joint session of the Supreme
Soviet.
All members of Parliament, in
cluding Josef Stalin, rose and
cheered when the first delegation
from the Western (formerly Polish)
Ukraine entered the chamber car
rying red banners.
In a speech welcoming annex
ation to the Soviet Union, a dele
gate speaking in Ukrainian said
"Our first words are words of grati
tude to Comrade Stalin.”
Principal business on the agenda
was action by Parliament on in
corporating the Ukrainian and
White Russian provinces into Russia.
Finns Head for Moscow
With 'Final Answer'
HELSINKI. Nov. 1 (A*).—A dele
gation empowered to deliver Fin
land’s “final answer" to Soviet Rus
sian demands headed for Moscow
today, perhaps for the last time.
The delegation, led by former
Premier Dr. Juho Kustl Paasikivi,
was ready to negotiate the dispute
over territorial concessions wanted
by Russia until the last hope of
settlement faded, said a foreign office
spokesman.
The negotiators set out from Hel
sinki last night, for their third trip
to the Russian capital, before Vya
cheslaff Molotoff, Russian Premier
and foreign commissar, made nis
surprise exposition of the Kremlin's
demands on Finland.
The delegation paused at the bor
der to consult the government on
the “new situation’’ and then de
cided to continue to Moscow.
There was no question that the
Molotoff speech, disclosing secrets of
the negotiations, was a sharp blow
to the Helsinki government which
had been shielding the subject mat
ter of the talks.
Delegation Sent On.
The foreign office earlier today is
sued a statement saying a “new
situation” had been created, and
that “naturally” there would be a
delay in the negotiations. This bad
been taken to mean possibly that
the delegation would be recalled to
Helsinki.
However, the Finnish cabinet met
in an unusual early-morning ses
sion, discussed the Molotoff address
and decided talks should be con
tinued so there could be no charge
that Finland had disrupted them.
Subsequently the delegation called
the foreign office before crossing
the border to Leningrad and dis
cussed the latest Moscow develop
ments over the telephone. The del
egation was advised to continue its
Journey.
It was considered likely In gov
ernment circles that the negotia
tors would receive further instruc
tions before reaching Moscow to
morrow or at least before they sit
down again at the Kremlin con
ference table. They traveled by
train. •
The so-called "final answer” of
the Helsinki government was be
lieved to constitute a rejection of
all proposals involving cession of
territory.
Non-Aggression Pact Cited.
In reply to Molotoff's assertion
that Russia has the right to protect
the security of the Oulf of Finland
and the frontier near Leningrad,
the foreign office statement said:
"The Soviet Union, in a non-ag
gression pact in 1932, undertook to
respect the frontiers fixed by the
peace treaty of Dorpat (ly which
Russia recognized. Finland's inde
pendence October 14, 1920), and ar
range all differences .between the
countries by peaceful means.
“Finland relies on the U. 8. 8. R.
respecting this agreement.”
The Uusi Suomi, first newspaper
to comment, said the Russian argu
ment that Leningrad was threat
ened by -the nearness of Finnish soil
was "queer and without foundation.”
It said of the Russian demand for
a strip of Finnish territory North of
Leningrad, “The Finnish territory
which i« within the ancient histori
cal national boundaries—boundaries
whose inviolability tha‘ Russians
have promised to honoq^-never has
been and la not now in any way a
threat to the safety of Leningrad.
“We understand, too, that the
U. 8. 8. R. wants to assure the safety
of its greatest port city (Leningrad),
but it is Just as natural that we can
not oe a party to sufch an arrange
ment which may involve jeopardlz
ing our own safety and neutrality.
That is the only question which
remains.
“The Pinna are well-informed on
this, slid we do not need for support
of oui stand any kind of outside
influence. In this respect, our na
tion h'u no alternative. Its stand is
simpld and plain.”
Roflll Deaths Increase
Although the British ministry of
transport suspended the issuing of
road accident statistics, it has ad
mitted that road deaths have
trebled and non-fatal accidents In
creased more than five times since
blackouts were started. London
wants a relaxation of lighting re
strictions.__
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Concessions Sought Would Perihit Russions to Dominate
Gulf of Finland, Strengthen Leningrad Defenses
:V Gulf of __ Lak«!
Bothnia 1«A^a
/h,
STOCKHOLM
miles I
By tli* AnoeUtcd Pmi.
Geographic strategy was disclosed
today as the basis of Soviet Russian
proposals to Finland, involving
domination of the Gulf of Finland,
a greatly Improved defense for Len
ingrad and firmer control of the
Arctic waterways.
As outlined to the Supreme Soviet
by Premier Molotoff, Russia is ask
ing:
A lease on a small section of Fin
nish territory near the entrance to
the Gulf of Finland (presumably
Hango Head and the town of Han go)
for military purposes.
Title to some small Islands in the
Gulf of Finland.
A strip of the Karelian Isthmus
north of Leningrad.
Portions of the Rybachi Peninsula
on the Arctic Ocean.
In exchange. Finland is offered a
portion of Soviet Karelia twice the
size of the Finnish territory re
quested. Russia also would with
draw objections to fortification of
the Aaland Islands in the Gulf of
Bothnia, if by Finland alone, and
the Finnish-Soviet border would be
demilitarized.
Significance of..these proposals
rests on the contours of the Baltic
Sea, which probes deep into North
em Europe with two great fingers,
the gulfs of Bothnia and Finland.
Aa lands Control Gulf of Bothnia.
The Gulf of Bothnia, separating
Finland on the west from Sweden,
is of comparatively little military
significance at present. Its mouth is
controlled by the Aaland Islands.
Molotoff, disavowing any aims in
the direction of Sweden, thus ex
presses his willingness to let Finland
control that gulf by agreeing to
fortification of the Aa lands.
The Gulf of Finland, however, is
a different bit of waterway. At its
head is Leningrad, the renamed
port which Csar Peter the great
built on the Russian marshes. Also
along this gulf lie Finland’s capi
tal, Helsinki, her important city of
Viipuri, and on the south the Es
tonian capital, Tallinn.
Russia, having made military
pacts with Lithuania, Latvia and
Estonia on the Baltic, is fortifying
the islands of Hliumaa (Dagoe) and
Saaremaa (Oesel), off the Estonian
coast, and is converting the Es
tonian town of Baltiskl (Baltic
port) into a naval base.
Ruler Beyond Challenge.
With BaltisU at the mouth of the
Sulf of Finland on the southern
shore and Hango head 6n the north
ern, or Finnish side, Russia would
be ruler of the gulf almost beyond
challenge. *
Leningrad is only about 20 miles
from the southeastern Finnish bor
der, however, and Molotoff pointed
out this distance is well within range
of artillery.
Therefore, he proposed that Fin
land cede "several dozen kilometers"
of territory north of Leningrad and
that the new border be demilitar
ized.
The beninsula of Rybachl, on the
far northern coast, already is held
almost entirely by Russia, Finland
having only a small portion Which
gives her an outlet to the Arctic
Ocean. Whether suggested conces
sions tnere would cut Finland off
entirely from the Arctic Sea was not
made Hear.
In return for all this, Molotoff of
fered Finland an unspecified por
tion of Karelia.
This section of the U. 8. S. R.,
directly to the east of Finland, is a
wooded, lake-filled land much like
the Finnish mainland. Its people
are racially akin to the Finns. The
country, however, is undeveloped.
Him# 1
Claims Six
Shot Down Monday
Impression Growl
^rmy It Roody lor v
'Positivo Initio tiv«'
Bj Um Auoetstsd liw,
BERLIN, Nov. 1,-lh* supreme
army command’■ communique today
raised to six the number «C planes
■hot down by the Germans on the
western front and in the North Sea
Monday.
Four of them wen British, the an
nouncement said. Identity of the
other two was not revealed.
Yesterday’s communique said four
planes were shot down Monday.
Today’s communique reported only
desultory artillery fire and recon
noiterlng activity on the western
front.
Germany Believed Beady.
An unconfirmed but general im
pression that Germany now is ready
for some “positive initiative” in the
European war developed today in
Informed quarters.
This followed two external events
of interest to Germany—the reor
ganlaztion of the Italian cabinet
and Soviet Russian Premier Vy
acheslaff Molotoff’s declaration of
policy.
Informed circles held that neither
development, injured the German
cause, and that now nothing re
mains to bar German war Initiative.
As interpreted in these quar
ters. Premier Mussolini’s periodical
‘‘changing of the guard"—as the
Italian organization was character
ized here—was accomplished with
out a hitch while Molotoff empha
sized Russian-German co-operation.
These sources professed to see
only Indications of strength and un
swerving attachment on the part of
Italy and Russia whom they held to
be Germany’s two best friends.
Bir-Scale Threat Hinted.
Whether reports that a German
patrol had penetrated French terri
tory, being featured in the press
today, were a hint of possible big
MO* Mttrttr «t the western front I
in uaoonflnui& by nUUtaiy m {
>|ipii'l|ig See tom " no
tion wee increased by Interior Min
later Dr. WalbMm Frtek. In an
address at n»»d| last night tie ob
serred that "England rejected the
Fuehrer's hand extended in a ie«
ture of peace; and now others (Ger
many's enemies) shall have what
they wanted.”
Frick declared Germany has the
world’s finest army and that "no
power can snatch victory from the
German people."
Meanwhile to combat spies Ger
many announced restrictions were
being Imposed on communications
with neutral countries. There was
no Indication as to what form the
control might take.
Mokrtoff’s address before the Su
preme Soviet at Moscow was re
ceived so late that the morning press
gave scant notice, but extensive ex
cerpts were delivered by DNB,
official news agency, for future use.
It was emphasized in informed
quarters that Mokrtoff offered no
peace mediation. No official com
ment was forthcoming immediately,
but in a quarter close to the gov
ernment the observation was made
that "nothing in Molotoff’s address
should be of any comfort to Eng
land.”
dews Ordered Frras Vienna.
Announcement that several thou
sand Jews had been ordered to
leave Vienna and Maehrisch-Ostrsu,
near the Polish border, to settle in
former P61ish territory between the
Vistula and Bug Rivers caused deep
concern among Jewish residents In
other parts of the Reich.
It was explained that Jews able
to prove their Intention of migrating
Immediately to another country
would be excepted from orders
directing removal to Poland. In
structions issued to Jews in Vienna
emphasized that mere registration
with the American consulate or
possession of affidavits necessary to
enter the United States or some
other country would not be con
sidered adequate.
Government Undertaking
Absolute Control of
Staple Goods
Ms tlx Associated Pr«M.
MADRID. Nov. l-TT* Spanish
government, acknowledging the
threat of a major food shortage, de
clared war on profiteers today and
undertook “absolute” control of
staple- commodities to Insure oven
distribution.
The nation was informed of the
situation in a speech broadcast last
night by Ramon Serrano Suner,
minister of government, who said
the year’s crops would fan far short
of existing needs.
Serrano Suner, who came direct
from the first meeting of the new
political junta of the Fascist Fa
lange, which he heads, promised
that the government would Import
foodstuffs to meet the emergency
despite a national treasury "ex
hausted by the Reds.”
The ministry of commerce, Ser
rano said, would expropriate basic
foodstuffs to regulate distribution,
but would maintain free trading in
other goods.
Serrano Suner, brother-in-law of
Generalissimo Francisco Franco,
listed four causes for the Imminent
food shortage:
1. Disastrous effects on agriculture
resulting from the “Reds’ criminal
prolongation” of the Spanish civil
war.
2. Destruction of 40 per cent of the
railway rolling stock and "a much
higher percentage” of other trans
port facilities.
*. Less at foreign markets during
Hm eiril warfare and trade restrlc- ;
ttonejwugag from the prsasnȣ
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dnctton.**
•ral times ashedeeerlWttoTgrasi
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rating attorneys asked that sen
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imposed on five men charged with
profiteering in textiles. More the"
100 others await similar trials.
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