This Sunday was devoted to patriotic manifestations throughout the country and in all towns, appeals were made for calm, courage and patience on the part of the people. Many thousands attended the larger mass meetings and the demonstration in-the capital was held in the presence of Cabinet Ministers.
The outbreak of Soviet-Finnish armed conflict is highly improbable, the Finnish Foreign Minister, M. Elias Erkko, stated in en interview today, although he could report nothing more definite about progress in the Moscow negotiations, Finland, he said in reply to questioning, has already agreed to important concessions which amply ensure the safety of Soviet borders, especially in the Leningrad Tegion, but the Finnish Government cannot accept certain Soviet demands which jeopardize Finland's own safety.
Answering Soviet accusations that Finland is becoming provocative, he effectively pointed out that no Finnish troops are concentrated anywhere near the Soviet borders. As regards parleys in Moscow, which appear to have stalled, M. Erkko admitted no personal meetings were held for four days, but said that letters were exchanged in that period between Fin-sh delegates and the Kremlin. If the nish delegation leaves Moscow, he added, it would not mean the rupture of negotiations for both parties have agreed "to make haste slowly." Moreover, the Finnish delegation may in fact return to Helsinki if it appears inadvisable to resume parleys at once, the Foreign Minister declared. No tentative date has been set, however, and the delegation's return is "merely a possibility," M. Erkko stated in conclusion.—Havas.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.