Evening star., 1939-10-24
Peril Of Armed Action
BY Soviet in Finland
Believed Averted
Russia Seen Unwilling
To Risk Clash Until
More Opportune Time
By LELAND STOWE.

BY LELAND STOWE,
CHICAGO Daily News Foreign Correspondent.
HELSINK1, Oct. 24.-The danger
of any Russian armed intervention
In Finland is definitely adjourned
for the moment with the news that
the Finnish delegation is leaving
Moscow tonight with written Soviet
proposals which will be submitted
to the full cabinet here on Thurs
day. Although the details of the
latest Russian terms are not yet
known in Helsinki, it is felt that
the door has been left open for
possible agreement and it may be
stated safely that Finland will not
break off negotiations.
The problem of achieving modus
Vlvendl remains complex, due to the
conflicting interests of the two gov
ernments Moscow sees Finland as
potential dagger pointed at Lenin-
grad and dagger which could prove
fatal for the Bolshevist regime if the
Nazis ever seized military control
OF Finland Helsinki sees the Soviet
as a persistent menace to its demo-
cratic system, it's liberal and mod
crate form of capitalism, and, there
fore, is anxious to remain closely
affiliated to the other three Scan
dinavian countries.
Question of Concessions.
Therefore, the fundamental ques-
ton is how Finland can thwart
Soviet efforts to detach her from
the Scandinavian bloc and yet give
Moscow sufficient concessions to re-
lleve Stains fears of Nazi penetra-
ton here at some future date.
Last night DR.. Juho K. Paasikivi
and ValnO Tanner, Finland's repre-
sentatives, talked at length with
Stain and Premier Foreign Com
mlssar Molotoff. Whatever strategic
demands the Soviet leaders may
have insisted on, it is emphasized
here that the discussions were
friendly and that the Russians now
had to commit themselves on paper.
The Firms remain chronically sus-
plclous of MoscoWs ultimate designs
on this rich border country. Con-
sequently. Germany's present retreat
from the Baltic has weakened Fin
lands position toward Russia, but
Turkeys pact with Great Britain
and France has come as a welcome
counterbalancing check on Moscow
at moment when it is most help
full to the Firms.
Russia Believed Not Ready.
This, in part, explains the in
creasing belief here that the Rus
slams are not ready to risk an armed
clash by unleashing an offensive
against Finland and that a COM
promise may be worked out for the
time being which might postpone
the Russo-Finnish crisis until
spring. A further factor is miti-
eating against the Soviet aggressions
the extreme military precautions
taken by the Firms along their
| southeastern frontier. The Karelian
isthmus is only 40 miles wide. with
only two or three good roads, all
OF which have been heavily mined
by the Finnish forces. The isthmus
also is much cut up by lakes ano
the district is packed with the pick
OF the Finnish Army. AS a result
the Soviets would be compelled to
take huge losses in any attempt te
invade Finland from the Karelian
frontier. while snow will soon blocl
the passes in the north
Combined political and military
elements all seem to impose nego.
tiated settlement on the Soviets, al
least until such time as their posi-
ton is much stronger.
(Copyright. 1889, Chicago Daily News, Inc