Evening star., 1941-11-03
Hull Says Soviet
Willing toCede
Territory
HeIsinki Is Warned
To Quit Fighting or
Lose U. S. Friendship
By GARNETT d. HORNER.

BY GARNETT d. HORNER.
The United States has warned
Finland that she will lose American
friendship if she does not promptly
discontinue offensive warfare
against Russia. Secretary of State
Hull disclosed today
He revealed also that the Soviet
Government was prepared to discuss
a separate Finnish Russian peace
on the basis of territorial compensa-
tion to Finland, but that the Finnish
Government has not yet indicated
any desire to enter such peace nego-
tiationS
The United States. Mr.. Hull said,
is awaiting Finland's reply to the
latest representations, made through
the American minister in Helsinki
and to the Finnish minister here,
before drawing any final conclu-
sions, in the hope that friendly rela-
tions can be maintained.
Secretary Hull declined to discuss
reports that Great Britain Is tenn
porarily holding up action on a
Soviet request for a British declara-
ton of war against Finland. to
await outcome of the Finnish
American discussions.
L. S. Policy Hampered.
Mr.. Hull said it had been en-
phasi1ed repeatedly to the Finnish
government that its apparent policy
Of continued offensive military op-
erations in Soviet territory runs
counter to the American policy Of
aiding those countries resisting the
threat of Hitler domination, without
contributing to the ultimate security
of Finland itself.
He explained that this Govern
ment realizes that Finland might
have difficulty In making peace with
Russia at this time because of Ger
man pressure. However. he en-
phasized. this does not alter the fact
that continued offensive war by the
Firms against Russia will mean
either that the Finnish government
is no longer a free agent or that
this policy is its free choice.
The Secretary said that on August
l8 the Finnish Minister here,
Hjalmar Procope, was informed that
the United States Government had
learned that the Soviet Union was
prepared to discuss a Finnish Soviet
peace on the basis of territorial
compensation to Finland.
He added that no spokesman of
the Finnish government has sub
sequently indicated any desire to
investigate. On the contrary, he
said, Finnish military forces have
continued the offensive against
Soviet territory. t.assG
Helsinki Then Notified.
A short time ago, Mr.. Hull went
on. the American Minister in Hell
sinki informed the Finnish govern
ment that If Finland desires to
maintain United States friendship
satisfactory evidence must be forth
coming that it is her intention to
discontinue offensive military op-
erations. The Finnish government
was reminded at the same time of
the information given Mr.. Pro-
cope.
Declaring that the Finnish gov
ernment's reply now is being
awaited, the Secretary recalled the
friendly relations which this coun-
try always has had with Finland
and said that up to now he had
refrained from drawing any final
conclusions in the hope that SINH
lar friendly relations can be MAIN
tanned.
American friendship for Finland
was manifested through liberal
credit and material assistance when
the Finnish people were resisting
Russian invasion nearly two years
ago. Nothing was said officially
against Finland here when she took
arms against Russia again coinci-
dent with the Nazi invasion of the
Soviet last summer on the conten-
ton that she was acting solely for
defense. Only when Finnish troops
drove into Soviet territory, beyond
the original Finnish boundaries. to
give evidence of an apparent offen-
sive policy, did this Government
express concern.