Evening star., 1939-10-22
Russo-Finn ParIey
Expected 10 Reach
Crucial Point tuesday
HeIsinki Delegation Is
Due Bock in Moscow
Tomorrow Morning
b the Associated Press.

b the Associated Press.
HELSINKI, Oct. 81. With the
melancholy Song of Finland" echo
ing through Helsinki station, the
Finnish delegation left tonight for
Moscow to deliver . Arm answer
and counterproposals to Soviet Rus
sian demands for more power in
the Baltic.
Heading the mission was former
Premier DR.. Juho Kusti Paasikivi,
who had returned from Moscow Just
a week ago after the initial con-
ferences.
The delegation, due in Moscow
Monday morning, included Finance
Minister Vaeinoe Tanner, leader of
the powerful Social-Democratic par
ty, which has thousands of Finnish
workers as members, and president
of the international Cooperative
Alliance.
Tanners inclusion was interpreted
as move to show Russia Finland's
workmen were behind their govern
ment.
Informed quarters said q decision
on the future of the negotiations
might be reached by Tuesday.
Prepares for Emergency.
Finland, meanwhile, went ahead
with preparations for . possible
emergency. announcing a defense
loan Of 500, 900 900 markka (about
s., 800 ,00O and 20 per cent increase
In income and property taxes ex-
pected to yield 100000 900 markka
(about 81 $3.50, ,00O.
A new tax on matches. 1t was
estimated, would bring 25.0O0 900
markka $466, ,25O to help support
military defense measures.
A hush fell over the railroad sta
ton when DR.. Paasikivi and the
other members Of his small delega-
ton walked to the train.
There was scarcely a sound until
a workers choir sang the haunting
melody which praises Finland's in
dependence.
Among those to bid farewell to the
delegation were United States Min
lister Arthur Schoenfeld. the Swed-
ish minister, and the secretary Of
the Russian legation.
Tanner, as q notable leader Of the
cooperative movement and presi-
dent of Elanto, thriving Finnish CO.
operative which sells everything
from food to bicycles, is counted as
one of the most important men In
the country.
Sends Determined Answer.
A government spokesman made
clear that Finland, morally
strengthened" by the Stockholm
conference in which she took part
with Norway, Denmark and Sweden.
was sending to Moscow q deter
mined answer to Russian demands
and counter-proposals. He said he
did not expect the discussions to
last more than two or three days,
and added:
If Russia has as good will O. we
do. agreement is possible"
This was interpreted as meaning
Russia would have to make some
alteration in her earlier demands.
which still were q closely guarded
secret.
Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania
preceded Finland in negotiations
on Russia's invitation and granted
their huge neighbor strategic mill
tary and naval concessions.
Raid Shelters Being Built.
In Helsinki, workmen were build
ing underground air raid shelters
and trenches in all sections of the
city.
Factories are turning out gas
masks by the thousands to catch
up with the demand.
At the post Office in the center
of the city a guard was on duty all
the time with an anti-aircraft gun
Sand bags protected power houses
Some departments provided steel
shelters for key workmen.
Throughout the city, women
clerks, stenographers, hotel maids
and housewives were knitting warm
clothing for thousands of soldiers
and reservists keeping vigil in the
forests of eastern Finland.