Evening star., 1948-02-28
Firms Expected
To Act Quickly
On Soviet Pact
President Believed
Likely to Name Group
Before Tuesday
By the kssocioted Press

44iAA1A4N4A4y A1AAca44S1 l. SSs @o.-
President Juho E. Paasikivi is
expected by Tuesday to name
delegation to discuss with Mos
COW the friendship treaty re-
quested by Prime Minister
Stain.
1t seems likely the delegation will
be headed either by Premier Mauno
Pekkala or by Foreign Minister Carl
Enckell, Russian-speaking diplomat
of long experience in Moscow
negotiations.
Meanwhile, persons close to the
cabinet said the President has asked
parliamentary groups to tell him
their attitude toward the proposed
treaty by Tuesday.
The mood of the Finnish people
seems resigned. Outwardly they are
Just preparing for another fine week
end, with skating championships as
the main issue. But wherever two
Firms meet, the Russian proposal is
the principal topic of conversation.
Decision "Not Easy"
The general attitude thus far
seems to be: This is not a Russian
ultimatum, but logical result of
the strained internationl situation.
The decision is no easy one, since
Finland has only one goal, to sta
billie her position and retain her
sovereignty" says the conservative
newspaper Uusi Suomi.
But the Communist newspaper
Tyokansan Sanomat declares:
Taking cover under a shroud of
neutrality, Finland's bourgeois cir
cles have for several years been bar
gaining their fatherland and their
people to sell them for Chauvinist
and imperialist ends. 1t is obvious
that these circles have got new i'm
pulses, since the old slogans and
tricks are being used again. But
this time they shall no longer de-
ceive anybody"
CA Moscow dispatch said no
Soviet newspaper published any,
thing on any Finnish subject to-
day.
Elections Set for July.
Political observers expressed con-
Germ over the Soviet move in view of
the impending parliamentary elec-
tions, scheduled for July. This con-
Germ stems from the pattern set
throughout Eastern Europe in recent
elections.
Suoman Socialidemokraatti, news
paper of the Social Democrat Party,
which has been anti-Moscow, re-
asserted its view that Finland should
strive for neutrality in big-power
conflicts. 1t said:
THE recent war altered the mill
tary political position of the country
and the peace treaty reduced our
military chances of, for instance,
getting (armed assistance. We
therefore fail to understand the
necessity of a pact such as the one
proposed by Soviet Russia
Most persons outside the Com
munist- dominated bloc seem to feel
that Finland should steer away from
great power conflicts and remain
neutral Scandinavian country. 1t is
clear, however, that the members
of Parliament realize fully that a
situation has been forced upon this
country.
Immediate Talks Asked.
Sources close to the government
said yesterday Mr.. Stain sent his
note Monday. They said he asked
that the Finnish government take
immediate steps to open negotia-
tions toward a treaty either in Mos
COW or HelSiuh.
The country seemed quiet in the
wake of this news. Many cabinet
ministers and members of Parlia-
ment were week-ending at country
resorts.
A defense treaty with Finland
would give Russia chain of such
Dacts with neighbors from the Black
Sea on the south to far north of
the Baltic.
Some sources said the proposed
treaty would be similar to that
Russia signed with Czechoslovakia
in l945. The Soviet t-Czechoslovak
pact was 20-year treaty of friend
ship and mutual defense against
Germany or any power allied with
Germany. directly or indirectly, in
war.
Czechoslovakia passed this week
under a Communist-controlled cab
met. The new government was
sworn in yesterday in Prague.
Three Hearings in Prospect.
The Soviet note to Finland is
expected to be placed before Par
lament Monday or later as a ques-
tion concerning foreign power.
Under parliamentary procedure.
such question must be dealt with
in three hearings by Parliament,
unless the chamber, by five-sixths
majority, votes it to be urgent.
Even if the note reaches Par
lament Monday, any final decision
could not be expected before We'd
nesday or Thursday.
Parliament has 200 seats. No one
party has majority. The largest
delegation, 81 seats, is that of the
Popular Democrats, bloc made
up of Communist and Socialist
Unity Parties.
The cabinet consists of three Com
munists, three Socialist Unity men,
five Social Democrats, five Agra
rians, one minister from the Swedish
Peoples Party and one non-party
member. The Premier, Msuno Pek-
kala. belongs to the Socialist Unity
Party.
The Communist Party claims some
See FTNT AND Page A-20