Evening star., 1948-02-27
BY the Assoeioied Press .

HELSINKI, Finland, Feb. 81
Tension suggesting an atmo-
sphere of government crisis per-
vaded Finland today with the
announcement that Moscow has
sent Helsinki a proposal for a
new treaty.
The Foreign Ministry announced
Russia has sent letter direct to
President Juho E. Paasikivi. The
ministry did not say what kind OF
pact was intended.
A semiofficial source said the let
ter was signed by Prime Minister
Stain.
1t is well known that Finnish
leaders for some time have been
studying closely the agreements the
Soviet Union has made one after
another with the Balkan countries,
network of pacts linking those
countries closely to Russia.
Declaration" of Red Program.
An authoritative source said Karl
August Fagerholm, Speaker of Par
Lament, would go to Stockholm,
perhaps to inform the Swedish gov
ernment of the Russian proposal.
Diplomatic quarters said the Rus
sian letter was a Soviet program
declaration" Reports persisted that
high-level discussions were under
way in the Finnish government con-
cerning new development in Rus
sian-Finnish relations"
The cabinet met with the Presi-
dent this morning. It's discussions
were kept strictly secret. The Presi-
dent had met for hours yesterday
with his Foreign Relations Com
mittee and members of his Govern
ment.
Ever since the Communist success
In Czechoslovakia, rumors have
spread swiftly in this country con-
cerning relations with Russia.
Past Often Discussed.
As in many of Finland,s political
crises, the news of this development
reached the outside world before it
reached the Firms. The nation
learned of it only in this after
Moons newspapers.
Informed sources said they be-
lieve the Soviet letter asks for some
kind of friendship or mutual de-
fense pact, or both, from the Firms.
Such pact has been discussed
previously many times, the Films
themselves taking the initiative
shortly after the armistice in Sep
tember, 1914.
Under the peace treaty Finland
ceded the Petsamo CPechenga) area
to Russia and gave the Russians a
50-year lease for a naval base on
the southwest coast overlooking sea
routes to Helsinki, Finland ceded
the strategic Karelian Isthmus
and agreed to pay reparations of
$500 100000 in six years.
When Finnish government dele
CATION visited Moscow last November,
it was reported the Russians again
brought up the question of a defense
pact. Nothing came of the discus
sion.
Envoy Visited President.
Last month a stir was created in
Helsinki when the Soviet minister
visited the president twice. He was
reported to have told Mr.. Paasikivi
the Russians would prefer Finland,
as the smaller nation, to take the
initiative in the matter of a defense
pact. Mr.. Paasikivi was reported to
have replied Finland would like to
take up the whole problem after the
parliamentary elections scheduled
here in July.
News of the Russian proposal has
aroused pessimistic speculation. Sew
eral informed sources said that, re-
gardless of the wording of such a
pact, it will imply that Finland def
initely is incorporated into the east
ern bloc of nations.
The Communist party in Finland
is weaker than in Czechoslovakia.
There are about $4,000 organized
Communist Party members in Fin
land. The party holds 81 of Parli-
ament's 200 seats. In the municipal
council elections last December, the
Communists lost more than 300
seats in city councils and dropped
from first to third place.
President Paasikivi summoned
chairman and vice chairman of the
(See FINLAND, Page A-6.)