The Wilmington morning star., 1940-03-13
DIET HOLDS FUTURE
TO RED-FINN PACT
CONTINUED From Page One)

VAN oASAiAAAS VI d
treaty had been received from
the Finnish delegation, head
ed by Premier Risto Ryti.
Any agreement signed in
Moscow presumably will not
come into force until it is
ratified by the diet and all
signs pointed to a thorough
examination of the document
by that body.
Eighty-five members of
the parliament - the largest
representation of any one
party in that 2O0-member
body - belong to the social
democratic party headed by
Foreign Minister Vaino Tan
ner.
Tanner Abused
The Soviet government has
heaped abuse upon Tanner
ever since he assumed office
in the coalition government
formed after the outbreak of
the war.
Activities of the diet were
kept a closely-guarded secret
this morning as they have
been since the war started.
It is known, however, that
it went into session last night
and there was little doubt
that the agreement with
Moscow was under discus
sion.
One spokesman, when ask
ed early today for an esti-
mate of the situation, said
"the diet has not yet de-
cided."
Earlier it was officially de-
MED that Finland had sent an
answer to Russian proposals.
Moscow's original demands
last fall Ito secure the safety
of Leningrad" and preserve
the Soviet Union against
hostile aggression were for
a thirty ?year lease of Hanko
and adjoining territory for a
naval base with a garrison
of not more than 5000 men,
use of the Bay of Lappohja
as an anchoring berth, ces-
sion of five islands in the
Gulf of Finland, cession of
the Karelian isthmus from
the Village Of Lippola on the
east to the southern border
of Koivisto island on the
west, cession of territory in
the Petsamo region, a nom
aggression treaty and de-
militarization of the border.
Original Request
(Thus the original request OF
Russia for territory on the Kareli-
an isthmus would have given her
only a few miles instead Of all the
|isthmus which she gets under the
treaty. Lipola is on the old Rus
sian-Finnish border and is only
about As miles from Koivisto, dag
lonally across the peninsula. That
proposal would have moved the
Finnish border back only about 20
miles at the deepest point.)
Finland was to give up 2,761
square kilometers (1,046 square
miles) for which Russia was to
cede $500 square kilometers (2,134
square miles) along Finland's east
ern border to the republic.
These demands were softened
slightly in the course Of the nego-
tiations.
In Yesterdays confusing welter
of rumors of peace, war, truces
and new negotiations the only SOL
idlv realistic contributions to the
people of Helsinki were a short air
raid alarm at 4 p. m. g a. m,
E.S.T.), and an army communlque
which said Russia had lost Is more
bombing planes yer Finland.
Reds Still Trying
The communique, dated noon Is
a.. M, E.S.T.), showed the Russians
still we're trying to take Vllpurl.
Officials said they had no knoWl-
edge Of a truce-a Rumor "n'ch
circulated freely.
An official announcement was
Expected tonight or tomorrow TO
.Iclarify the status Of the 1O4 day
Iold war. Most common opinion
Iamong informed observers mere
was that some kind of "honoraple
peace' was in the immediate OF
fling.
It seemed likely that parliament,
which must pass on the terms OF
|any settlement, would hold a secret
session either tonight or tomorrow.
Officials would not mme oil
the possibility, although n saiu
no action had been taken by the
parliament early tonight.
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