Evening star., 1939-10-09
Finnish Delegation
Expected 10 Reach
Moscow Tonight
Mony in Finland Growing
Uneasy Despite Denial
Demands Were Made
BY the Associated Press.


STOCKHOLM, Oct. 9.-Dr. Juhu
Paasikivi, Finland's heavy-set. stern
looking Minister to Sweden, was ex-
pected to carry the hopes e his
freedom-loving countrymen to Mos
COW tonight to meet the Soviet
giant, which in less than a month
has absorbed part of one European
republic and brought dark hours to
three others.
Paasikivi, 50, who helped fix
boundaries of the young Finnish
Republic in 1920 as chief delegate
to the Russo Finnish conference at
Dorpet, will personify the determi-
nation for independence of 1000, 900
Firms. It was said he would leave
by train, accompanied by technical
experts of the Finnish foreign Office.
DR.. Paasikivi planned last-minute
consultation with government lead
ers at Helsinki.
Deny Demands Received.
While Government officials in
sisted no demands had been re-
ceived from Moscow and the invita-
ton mentioned only economic and
political questions" many Firms
were becoming uneasy.
The Finnish foreign minister, Elias
Erkko, reported as declining to make
the trip, said in an interview with
the Stockholm newspaper, Dagens
Nyheter, the only thing that hap
pened is the Soviet government
asked If the Finnish government
was willing to exchange opinions
about political and economic prob
lens without mentioning what those
problems are" Erkko described this
as 1.-The normal procedure" and
added, THE Finnish government
could but say yes"
Finland has declared in many
ways and has made 1t clear the
country wants to stand as neutral
and does not want to be directly
bound through pact to any group
of big powers" the foreign minister
was quoted as saying.
Moves Watched by Neighbors.
The northern countries watched
with interest the sturdy little re-
public's moves. However, there was
no confirmation of reports the
Helsinki government had appealed
to Sweden for diplomatic aid in
anticipation of excessive demands"
from the Soviet.
Meanwhile. 1t was said here 1000
Russian troops were concentrated on
the Estonian border, ready to march
in Tuesday to man naval and air
bases which Estonla recently granted
the Soviet under a mutual assistance
pact.
Nearly 5000 more troops were
scheduled to follow and 10000 were
to 60 to similar bases in Latvia.
Fear Demands for Bases.
Informed circles at Helsinki said
they feared demands would be made
for the establishment of Soviet bases,
since earlier trade discussions be-
tween the two governments broke
up when Russia repeatedly attempt
ed to insert extraneous political
matters.
Finland has called up additional
reservists for extraordinary military
service to strengthen the national
neutrality"
The head Of the Finnish delega-
ton to Moscow speaks Russian, Ger
man and Swedish, in addition to
Finnish, and has met Russians on
many occasions. He was member
Of the provincial legislative body
when Finland was part of Rus
sia. AS member of the Conserva-
tive party, he served in the repub-
lies Diet from its founding until
1896. when he became the envoy
to Stockholm.
He was managing director of Fin
lands state bank 20 years and
headed many economic delegations.
He brought Finland's declaration of
independence to Scandinavian coun-
| tries in 1917.