Evening star., 1948-02-29
Note Is Broadcast,
Asks Treoty Like
Those in Balkans
sy III. Assoeioisd Press


All indications today were that
Finland will heed the summons
of Marshal Stain and enter
reluctantly into negotiations for
a defense pact with the Soviet
Union.
Political circles are discussing the
procedure for the negotiations pro-
posed by Prime Minister Stain in
his note to President Juho Paasikiyi
on Monday. Reliable sources said
the president has asked the various
parties in parliment to advise him
of their attitude by Tuesday.
No decision was expected before
Tuesday or Wednesday.
BY Tuesday the president may
name the persons who will form the
Finnish delegation in the negotia-
tions expected to take place in
Moscow. There was speculation
whether Prime Minister Mauno
Pekkala, leftist, or. Foreign Minister
Carl Enckel, would head an all
governmental delegation, or whether
the delegation would be composed
or representatives of the various
elements of parliament.
Text Of Stalin's Letter.
A Moscow broadcast, heard in
London, quoted Stalin's letter as
follows: =.
"As should be known to you, of
the three countries bordering on
the u. S. S. r. which waged war
against the u. s. S. r. on the side
of Germany two-Hungary and
Romania-have signed with the
u. S. S. r. treaties of mutual
assistance against possible Ger
man aggression,
"It also is known that both
our countries greatly suffered
from this aggression and it is
the two OF. Yus who will be re-
sponsible before our peoples If
j We permit repetition of such
aggression.
Il assume that Finland, not
less than Romania and Hungary,
4 is Interested In pact of mn-
/ tual assistance with the u. s. SsR.s
against possible German aggrex-
sion IN view of these cpnsid-
! efati0ns, and wishing to establish
ssnopdi ditipns for .a radical irnproge~ q
& ziei1E fiastke refatfons Between our s
countries with the aim, of 4
strengthening peace and security,
the Soviet government proposes
the conclusion of Soviet-Fin-
nish pact Of friendship, Coop
Grafton and mutual assistance
similar to the Hungarian Soviet
and Romanian-Soyiet pacts.
If there is no objection on
the part OF Finland, I would
propose that Finnish delega-
ton be sent to the U. S. S. r.
for the conclusion of such
pact. If you consider it more
convenient to carry on negotia-
tions for the conclusion of a pact
in Finland, the Soviet government
is prepared to send its delega-
ton to Helsinki.
Envoy Sees President.
So far the Firms were in the dark
as to what Stain wants.
The main concern was whether
his request was dictated exclusively
by the wish to safeguard Soviet ter
ritory, especially Leningrad, or
whether he has something up his
sleeve"
So far, authoritative sources said,
there have been no demands OF any
kind, such as that the Soviet army
be allowed to occupy Western Fin
land in the case of war or threat
Of war.
The negotiations are expected to
show what Stain actually wants.
1t. Gen. G. M. Savonenkov, Soviet
minister to Finland, paid a visit
to the president today. What was
discussed was not disclosed.
Leading Firms stress that Finland
hopes her social and political tradi-
.tions will not be threatened, but
they are disturbed by impending
national elections in July because
of what has taken place in Czecho-
slovalia ana elsewhere just before
elections in which Communists
wished to cement control.
Importance Realized.
The Communists, merged with the
Social Unity Party in the Popular
Democratic bloc, are the largest
single party in parliament with 81
of the 200 seats. In recent munich
pal elections, however, their voting
strength slumped markedly.
Every Finn realizes the nation
faces a very important decision
whether to abandon the national
policy of neutrality toward big pow
er politics. .....
Heretofore, all parliamentary
groups except the Communists have
expressed the wish to keep clear of
the great powers and remain neu-
(See FINLAND, Page A-4D