The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-10-12
BY NORMAN b. DEUEL.

| lNOkNIkfAIN d. DcOEA
UNITED Press Staff Correspondent
Helsingfors, Finland, Oct. H.
Cup Hope rose throughout Fin
land today that diplomatic action by
the United States and the Scandi-
navian countries might save the
country from Russian domination.
Townspeople in the streets, volun-
teers drilling on country roads, and
soldiers on emergency guard all over
the country excitedly discussed re-
ports that the United States.
Sweden, Norway and Denmark had
taken or would take diplomatic ac-
ton in hope of persuading Russia
to make no demand which would in
fringe Finland's independence or
sovereignty.
The reports as circulated here were
that separate but similar notes to
Russia would emphasize the impor-
lance of respecting Finland's in
tegrity.
There was mystery still as to the
nature and extent of the demands to
be made by Russia today to j. K
Paasikivi, Finnish specially envoy
who arrived at Moscow yesterday.
Tension Some Eased
Reports of foreign diplomatic aid
alone served to east tension. 1t was
asserted that squadron of 81 Rus
sian war planes had accommodated
along the Finnish coast last night
near the coastal cities of Borga and
Lovisa, only SO miles east Of Hell
Singfors.
Strong Russian troop forces, ac-
companied by tanks and heavy artil-
lery, has previously been reported
along the Finnish Russian frontier
The famous civil volunteer corps
comprising 10000 young men began
drilling in villages and along roads
yesterday, ready to reinforce the
army of 255,000. Members of the
women,s auxiliary corps provided
them with meals and prepared bill
lets for them.
Railroad tunnels, bridges anc
other strategic points were heavily
guarded by troops and many Of
them were mined. Barbed wire was
strung along roads, ready to serve
as barriers, and thick pieces of tim
Der were stuck into the grounds tc
stop tanks.
Evacuation Goes On
Trains, buses and private motor
cars evacuated women, children anc
q od oy,I III ,oorcOnc from, thu hin
cities. Roads were jammed with out
going traffic. 1t was estimated that
$4,000 refugees left Helsingfors yes
terday alone.
Queques of people waited before
food and other shops to buy neces-
saries before leaving for places Of
safety.
Thousands o. people sat quietly or
the floors of railroad stations, wait
ing their tur nto go. The women's
auxiliary corps fed htem. There was
no joking and laughing, but there
was no sign of fear. Occasionally
someone would start singing folk
song and those nearby would join
More frequently the Lutheran hymn
"A Mighty Fortress Is Our God,
would be started, and taken up by
thousands of people until 1t echoed
through hte entire areas Of the city
The most general expression Of
regret over the possibility of sui
cidal war with Russia was that the
1910 Olympic games scheduled to be
held here might have to be held
elsewhere. Helsingfors had lokoed
forward to the games to make it a
world ciyt. It's streets had been
widened, its squares enlarged, new
buildings and hotels had been con-
structed. At the Olympic stadium
flags of the four Scandinavian coun-
tries still flew. Other flags, APP
parently in the interest of neutral
ity, had been removed.
u. S. Envoy In Moscow
Moscow, Oct. 12-UP) - United
States Ambassador Laurence A.
Steinhardt conferred with foreign
minister Viacheslav Molotov today
as the Soviet Union opened impor-
tant political and economic negoti-
ations with Finland.
1t was believed both United States
and Swedish diplomatic representa-
tives were interested in the Soviet
Finnish talks
The United States embassy de-
clined any comment on Steinhardt,s
visit to the Kremlin, where he re-
manned for about an hour before
Molotov received j. K. Paasikivi, the
special Finnish envoy.
1t was believed, however, that the
American diplomat discussed gen.
eral problems in connection with the
Soviet Finnish negotiations. It also
was understood that the Swedish
governments representatives were IN