Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-02-14
Easier Soviet Terms
Hinfed in HeIsinkias
Films Stand Firm
No Time for Peace PIuns,
Tonner Says as Aid
Begins to Arrive
By LELAND STOWE,

BY LELAND STOWE,
chicago Daily News FOREIGN Correspondent.
HELSINKI, Feb. 14.-Diplomats
and foreign observers here are
bordering the full significance of
Foreign Minister v. A. Tanners
statement, Monday, in which he
revealed that Finland Is now assured
of very considerable aid from
abroad and made the historic decla-
ration, "this is not the time to make
peace proposals"
From the forcefulness of Tanners
language, it seems evident that the
government feels itself compelled
to counteract the possible discourage
ing effect Of indiscriminate peace
talks on outside assistance to the
everlasting Firms.
Aside from this completely under
standable purpose, there remains
the question whether other agen-
cies have been making peace sound
ings beyond Finland's borders, and
whether reports of a change in at
titude on the part of the Krem-
Inns policy-makers may have very
real foundation. In some quarters,
1t is confidently maintained that
Moscow has shown disposition to
water down certain of its original
must" demands upon Finland. For
eign Minister Tanner, however, has
made it plain that If this is true,
any such revised Soviet position
has not been communicated Official
ly to the Helsinki government.
May Be Too Late.
This is another thing from say
ing that no "feelers" pointing to-
ward q possible compromise have
been put out to one or more neu-
trail ENJOYS in Moscow In recent
weeks. According to the best avail
able information here, there seems
strong reason to believe that the
contrary may be the case. 1t is
asserted, for instance, that Soviet
Russia has indicated that it would
no longer insist upon the establish
ment of a naval base at Hanko,
Finland's south coast fortress, but
might be content with the creation
of a demilitarized zone there.
The Kremlin's autumn demand
for outright protection of Hanko
was regarded by Finland as direct
threat to its independence, and Hell
sinks refusal to cede Hanko to the
Soviet constituted one OF the chief
excuses for Russia's launching OF
her undeclared war. One can only
conclude that the Films magnif1-
cent resistance and the costly blows
which they have inflicted upon the
Red Army have combined to put
Moscow in a much more conciliatory
and realistic frame OF mind.
This purported evolution in the
attitude of Russias leaders might
assume exceptional Importance were
1t not for the fact that it appears
to have occurred too late-at mo-
ment when Finland's material
strength is definitely on the increase
and the competence Of the Finnish
high command is undeniably strong.
It is of interest, also, that Tanners
statement stresses the League of
Nations promise of assistance,
thereby making no mention Of any
possible Intermediary action by
either Italy or the United States.
Steinhardt's Name Mentioned.
The name of Laurence A. Stein
hardt, American Ambassador to So
Wet Russia, has been linked with
possible peace conversations with
the Soviet authorities in Moscow.
This report seems to be based upon
Mr.. Steinhardt's visits to Stockholm,
Riga and Tallinn last month, and 1t
may tend to exaggerate the role of
the American Ambassador. 1t seems
impossible. however, to discount
Moscow's revised attitude toward the
status of Hanko, and that alone,
were other circumstances I'M
changed, might have opened the
door for an exploration Of peace
possibilities.
In any case, the fact that Tan
ner's statement has now ruled out
any such possibility-to all appear
ances and for an indefinite time
now-must be regarded as signifi-
cant milestone in the development
of the war. For one thing, it un-
derscores the fact that from this
time forward Finland will benefit by,
and depend upon, every considerable
measure of foreign aid of which a
great part will come from England
and France. Thus, the Russo-Fin-
nish conflict promises to assume a
different complexion and far broad
er implications,
Outside Aid Increases.
Nor can one overlook the fact that
at the present moment, outside as
sistance is coming or promised to
Finland chiefly from two sources
from the Scandinavian countries
and from Great Britain and France.
Beside Anglo French assistance,
that from America is very subordi-
nate and relatively small in regard
to vital arms and military supplies.
AS Anglo rench assistance grows,
the shadow of the western war in
evitably will fall deeper over this
remote part of Europe. It is i'm
possible to anticipate what this may
mean for the future, or what i'm
plications may develop. Neverthe-
less, there exists the strikingly con-
trasting fact that Finnish official
spokesman and the Finnish people
have shown themselves primarily
interested in the preservation Of
Finland's freedom and territorial
integrity. This is the declared
objective of Finland's fight and it
will certainly remain so.
For this reason it is difficult to
imagine that the Helsinki govern
ment would normally remain deaf
to any new Russian peace pro-
posals so long as its liberty of de-
cision stands unaltered, and always
provided that Moscow should make
an offer which would in. no way
jeopardize Finland's independence.
(copyright, 1910. Chicago Daily News, Incl