Evening star., 1939-10-11
Firms Reach Moscow
For Negotiations on
Soviet Protection
Appear Slated to Be Next
Boltic Nation Drawn
Into Russian Orbit
Dy the Associated Press.

MOSCOW, Oct. 1l.-Russia turned
today to political and economic"
talks with Finland in the drive to
regain the Balti dominance she en-
joyed in the heyday of the Cars.
Against background Of troops
massed on Finland's border and
concentrations of men, warplanes
and warships elsewhere in the Baltic
region. the Kremlin stage was set for
conversations with the Finnish dele
cation.
The Soviet Union has Just con-
cluded series of military alliances
with Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania,
three former segments of the Rus
sian Empire which broke away fol-
lowing the World War They be-
came, in effect, Soviet protectorates.
Finland, also once a part of the
Czarist Empire, appeared next In
line for this protection"
Russia gained points for the gar
risoning of thousands of troops and
bases for warships and warplanes,
as well as trade and transport con-
cessions, through her bargains with
the three little states to the south
of Finland.
Mission Reaches Moscow.
The Finnish mission. headed by
DR.. Juho Kusti Paasikivi, one-time
premier and now Minister to Swe-
den, reached Moscow by train and
was greeted at the station by the
chief of protocol of the Moscow
foreign Office and the Finnish and
Scandinavian Ministers to Russia.
Concurrently with the coming of
the Firms the Communist party
newspaper, Pravda, declared edi-
torially that Russias policy of
peace, good neighborly relations
and friendship with nations scores
one success after another"
The newspaper said that by the
treaty with Lithuania-as with the
Estonian and Latvian pacts-"the
Soviet Union assures the security
of its frontiers and further consoli-
dates its defense.
THE Soviet Union removes the
menace on the part Of imperialist
powers toward the weakly defend
ed states neighboring with the q. 8.
S. r.
Thus an iron belt of Soviet de-
fense is being erected throughout
the Baltic Thus stable peace Is be-
ing created In Eastern Europe.
THE peoples of our country will
greet with tremendous satisfaction
the conclusion of the new treaty
with Litnuania) consolidating the
power of the Soviet Union and Great
ing a new barrier against all i'm
perialist intrigues.
Lithuanian Pact Concluded.
The third of the Baltic pacts, that
with Lithuania, was concluded last
night. Aside from its military fea-
lures, it provided for return to Lith-
uania of her historic capital, Wilno
(Vilna), and the Wilno region,
oCALCu OCGOUCA y, AUzV, Wy d IcUcl
Polish general. .'..
The Lithuanians never have
ceased to regard Wilno as their cap
ital. The Russian Army captured
it after two-hour battle with
Polish forces last month in the west
ward drive into Poland and last
nights pact passed it on to the
Lithuanians.
Wilno. city and province, were
reported jammed with thousands
upon thousands Of Jewish refugees
from the German invasion of Po-
land. The normal population Of the
territory Is between SOC, 600 and 600.-
900.
The q. 8. s. r. was given the right
to place q limited number" Of
troops in Lithuania, their bases to be
rented from the Lithuanian govern
ment and to remain under Lith-
uanian sovereignty.