1 Transit Agreement j- London, May 1- The Finnish Legation in London today isted: an' Official statement x a which confirms the arrival of German troops in "Finland, but says the'reported number of 12,000 is grossly 3 exaggerated. They: are, says the Finnish Statement, merely passing through thé'Couütry in transit to Norway.
FIn*.fact, no sensational troop sports from Germany to Finland have taken, place.-but-a number'
Géfman-'troóps—a fraction only of what has been alleged—have arrived and are passing through Finland on their way to Norway in conformity with transit arrangements which have been in force since last aütumn."—1 Reuter.
"Unarmed" Soldiers Washington. May 1.
Mr. Hjalmar Procope, Finnish Minister to Washington, yesterday announced that his Government denied "emphatically and categorically" Moscow reports that German troops had landed in Finland.
"The facts are," he said, "that German soldiers arrived. unarmed, at Turku, in accordance with a transit agreement made last autumn, The total number of soldiers was below "Record" Exaggeration Helsinki, May 1.
"The figures given by Moscow beat all previous records in exaggeration," it was uñofficially stated following the "semi-official" statement made here yesterday that a limited number of Germans had passed through Finland "in accordance with the transit arrangements made in the autumn of 1940."
The Moscow newspaper "Pravda" had said that 12,000 men with tanks and guns landed at the Finnish port of Abo. Reuters Moscow correspondent says the report was feceived there With no great surprise. P According to neutrals, Germans in Moscow say the troops are probably on the way to' Narvik.—Reuter.
Troops Massed for May Day Moscow, May 1.
The Soviets massed dozens of squadrons: of planes, heavy artillery 3 and tanks here yesterday for the annual May Day demonstration today, cofficident with reports of German troop landings in Finland.
"The newspaper "Red Star," mean. y while, commented that the "Inter national situation is extraordinarily complicated and fraught. with surprises, but no matter what storm Tages about us, the ship.of state is continuing its course unfalteringly."
The former Finnish Communist Chief, M. Toivo Antikainen, writing in "Pravda," said that "in capitalist countries behind our borders, national hatreds, beastly chauvinism and an dedo of plunderous war is spreading.
Meanwhile, a "Pravda" despatch irom Tallin said that German troops aboard four transports landed at Abo VTurku) Finland on April 28 and proceeded to Tampere on April 28.—United Press.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.