Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1961-11-15
Soviet Pressure
Forces Films 10
Call Elections

HELSINKI, Nov. is (AP).-
Finland today headed into a
period Of feverish political
activity with three elections
scheduled within one month In
an effort to ward off defense
talks with the Soviet Union.
/ President Urho Kekkonen
yesterday dissolved Parliament
and moved up the date for
parliamentary elections from
July 2 to February As in an
swer to q demand by the Soviet
Union for assurances that Fin
land would maintain friendly
relations with Russia.
/ Three hundred electors for
the presidential elections are
10 be chosen by voters January
ISIS. The electors in turn will
name a new President February
lis and he viii take office
March /.
| Demands Assurances
| Had Mr.. Kekkonen not ad-
lvanced the parliamentary cleo
ton date, the new President
would have been faced with a
tour-month period of political
instability until a new govern
ment with parliamentary sup
port could take office. The
government traditionally SUBJ
mitS its resignation when a
new President starts his term.
Observers felt that the
Soviets feared that in such a
period Of uncertainty anti
Soviet groups could gain power
In the government.
A government cemmuniuue
said the Soviet Union had in
formed Finland that unless as
surances of continued friendly
relations were given, it would
persist in its October 80 demand
for Joint defense talks. The
Russians had commended that
West Germany posed a threat
to the safety Of both Finland
and Russia.
The decision by the Presi-
dent, made in a meeting with
the Agrarian Party minority
cabinet Of Premier Matti Met
tinen, came after Foreign Min
lister Anti Kajksiainen reported
on his weekend mission to
Moscow to discuss Russia's o.
tober 80 note.
A Foreign Ministry communi-
que said Soviet Foreign Min
lister Andrei A. Gromyko told
mr.. Kajkalainen Russia had
mot the slightest intention of
intervening in Finland's do
meStic position" but that the
political situation in Finland
had become uncertain and
certain political circles had
emerged which aimed at at
tempting to prevent the con-
tinuity Of the present foreign
policy"
The communique said Mr..
Gromyko asked for assurances
OF the continuation of the pres
ent Finnish foreign policy-a
Idelicately poised neutrality be-
tween Russia and the West
in order that military con-
situations might be avoided"
| Mr.. Kekkonen responded
with his announcement in
which he said that the inter-
national situation demanded
prompt arrival at decisions
which could not await the reg
ularly scheduled summer cleo
Itions.
Mr.. Kekkonen himself seeks
reelection as president and is
considered the strongest can
didate. His chief opponent is
OlaN Honka. former chancellor
Of justice, who is sponsored by
Social Democratic leader v.
Tanner. Mr.. Honka's election
would be certain to arouse So
Wet wrath, since Mr.. Tanner
was foreign minister during the
1939-1940 Finnish Russian
War.
Mr.. Kekkonen appointed Mr..
Miettinen's Agrarian govern
ment last July IA. No party has
a majority in Parliament, and
minority governments or coali-
lions between the Agrarians
and the Social Democrats have
been the rule for q decade.
Hertta Kuusinen, first lady
Of Finland's Communist Party
hailed the advancement of the
election date and said the Com
munistS had long been ready
for elections at any time. The
Communists with so seats are
the largest party in the 200
member Parliament but none
are in the present government.
The Agrarian newspaper
MaakanSa conceded that cleo.
ton Of a new Parliament was
necessary since there was no
other way to get a stronger
government.
The Social Democrats organ
Suomen Sosialidemokratti. said
its party had demanded new
elections for a year and at Is
a pity that the government
first woke up when one from
the outside criticized the weak
ness Of our minority govern
ments."