Dee 22 EA PN OCA TE: Se Ries eople’s Government Of Finland the people’s government of the Finnish Democratic Republic, 4d By P p Program | Issue MOscOoW, USSR.—Following is the text of _ despatches te Leningrad from Terioki, Finland: : : By the will of the people, indignant at the criminal policy of the contemptible government of _ our country—a provisional people’s Severnment——_was formed today (Dec. 1) in Eastern Finland. E This government hereby calls the entire F innish people to determined struggle for overthrow of the tyranny of hangmen and war Provocateurs. The reactionary, avid plutocracy which in 1918 i i drowned the democratic freedem of the F innish toiling peo- _ ple in a sea of blood, transformed our country inte a White Guard hell for toilers. : Having sold out the interests of the country’s independence, the plutocratic rulers of Finland, jointly with all kinds of imperialist enemies of the Finnish and Soviet peoples, ceaselessly hatched plans for anti-Soviet war provocations and finally plunged our country into the furnace of war against the Socialist Soviet Union—the Sreat friend of the Finnish people. We er a a ee tolling = = Molotov Scores ‘Malicious Slanders’ people, who have always desired and now desire to live in peace : ops ‘ | ; | Qualifications Bar CCF Asks Why nber 8, 1939. the program issued by as received in Cajander, Erkko and Tanner, a new government of ¥ with the peoples of the Soviet couniry, consider it their ele- mentary right and their sacred duty to take the fate of the fatherland into their own reliable hands. : The people have already arisen in Various paris of the country and proclaimed formation of a democratic republic. Sections of the soldiers of the Finnish army have already sided with the new government backed by the people. Friendly AA Cane asa ator : The Soviet Union, which never threatened or disturbed Finland, which always respected her inde- Pendence and for some 20 years tclerated war provocations on the pert of adventurist rulers of White Funland, has now been confronted With the necessity of putting an ‘end to these threats to Finland’s independence. _ his aim also fully corresponds With the vital interests of our People. That is why the masses of the people of Finland meet with tremendous enthusiasm and vwel- come the valiant, invincible Red Army, being aware that it is Marching to Finland not as a con- gueror, but as a friend and iiber- ator of our people. 3 The people’s government of Fin- land, being deeply convinced that the Soviet Union pursues no sims directed against the independence of our country, fully approves and supports the actions of the Red Army on the territory of Finland. it regards them as invyaluabie assistance to the Finnish people on the part of the Soviet Union for the purpose of eliminating as soon @s possible by joint efforts the most dangerous seat of war creat- ed in Finland by the criminal gov- ernment of war provocateurs. To accomplish this task as early @S possible the people’s govern- ment of Finland invites the gov- ernment of the USSR to render the democratic republic of Finland @ll mecessary assistance by Red Army forces. For participation in the joint struggle, hand in hand with the heroic Red Army of the USSR, the people’s government of Fin- dand has already formed the dirst Finnish army corps which in the course of the forthcom- ing battles will receive rein- forcements cf volunteers coming from the revolutionary work ers and peasants, and which must become the strong back-— bone of the future people’s army ef Finland. Tc the first Finnish army corps is accorded the honor of bringins the banner of Finland’s democra- Main Tasks The people’s government of Fin- land has every geround to hope that its firm course of establish- ang friendly relations with the Seviet Union will enable the goy-— ernment of the USSR to comply with this proposal. The people’s gzovernment sires to maintain friendly rela- tions 2lso with all other states. It recognizes the economic and financial obligations of Finland toward other states insofar as these obligations do not contra- dict Finland’s sovereignty and insofar as any of these states will not take hostile steps | against the democratic republic of Finland and its people’s gov- _ Srnment. ! In its ‘ple’s government sets following tasks: / i. Creation of a people’s army lof Finland. | 2. Institution of state control Over large private banks and large industrial enterprises and realiz- ation of measures assisting middie 4nd petty enterprises. ' 3. Realization of measures for complete elimination of unemploy-— ment & Reduction of the working day to eight hours, two weeks summer vacations for workers and reduc- tion of house rents for workers and employes. &. Confiscation of lands belong- inE to the big landowners, without touching lands and properties of the peasants, transfer of confis- fated lands to peasants having no land or possessing small allot- ments. 6 Exemption of peasants from the payment of tax arrears. _ 7%. State assistance in every form for improvement of the economic status of the poor peasants, in he first place by allotting to them additional land, pastures, and al- iG; when possible, forests, for their lomestic needs, from lands sonfis- ated from large landowners. _& Democratization of the state fanization, administration and ourts. 8. Enhancement of state subsi- ies for cultural needs and reor- anization of schools to ensure essibility of school attendance by Idren of workers and other €edy people, and solicitude in Very forme for development of Mblic education, science, litera internal policy the peo- itself the y tie republic into the Capital’ and hoisting it on the roof of the pre- sidential palace to the joy of the working people and to the awe of the people’s enemies. . Our state must be 4 democratic tTepublic, serving the interests of the people, unlike the plutoeratic republic of Cajander and Erikka, serving the interests of the capi- tazists and landlords. However, our state is not oy, State of the Soviet type because = Soviet regime cannot be estah- lished by the efforts of the gor- emnment alone without the con- Sent of the whole people, in par- licular the peasantry In con- formity with the above our gov- ernment is a people’s govern- ment of the democratic republic of Fintand. : It will rely for its support on a broad people’s front of toilers. The People’s government in its present composition regards itself as 4 Frovisional government. TImmedi- ately upon arrival in Helsinki, the Capital of Gur country, it will be reorganized and its composition broadened by inclusion of repre— Sentatives of both parties and S=OUPs participatine in the people's front of toilers. Final composition of the jpeople’s Sovernment, ats bowers and actions are to be sanc- tioned by a Diet elected on the basis of universal, equal, direct sufirage with a secret ballot The people’s government of Fin- land regards as its primary task everthrow of the sovernment of Finnish White Guards, routing of ats armed forces and conclusion of peace to insure the independence and security of Finland by estab- lishment of lasting friendly rela- tiens with the Soviet Union. The people’s-sovernment of Fin- land addresses to the government of the USSR a proposal to conclude @ pact of mutual assistance be tween Finland and the Soviet Un- ion and to comply with the age-old national hope of the Finnish peo- ple for reunion with the Karelian people in a2 single and independ- ent state of Finland. Stated ture and art in a progressive spirit. It turns out that the plutocratic So0vernment of Cajander and Eirk- ko, hated by the people, 4a sovern- ment which did its utmost to ruin our country, has resigned, having lost all Support of the people. This hated government has been replaced by Tanner’s gayvernment. But Tanner, like Cajander, is an enemy of our people. Panner’s Soevernment is not a single jot Getter, if not worse, than Cajan- der’s government. Our people hate it just as it hates Cajander’s gov- ernment. Chase these hansmen as possible from Finland! Down with this entire bankrupt ed government gang! Arise, leng suffering toiling peo- Ple of Finland! Arise to the cour- ageous fight against tyranny of your oppressors and hangmen! Arise all citizens to whom dear the future of our country! far as is Let us overthrow the black* pack of reaction from the shoulders of the people! Let us clear the read for the progress, welfare and culture of the people, for the realization of the age-old national aspirations of our people! Let there triumph the cause of the workers, peasants and workins intelligentsia of Finland! Under the banner of a free in- dependent democratic Republic of Finland, onward to victory! This declaration of principles was signed by Otto MKuusinen, chairman of people’s government of Finland and minister for foreign affairs; Mauri Rosenberg, assist ant chairman of the people’s soy- ernment and minister of finance: Aksel Anttila, minister of defense: Tuure Lehen, minister of internal affairs; Armas Ejkija, minister of 2ericulture; Inkori Lehtinen, min- ister of education; Paawo Proik- konen, minister of Karelian af fairs. Name Delegates CUMBERLAND, BC—Delesates to the special convention of Dis- trict 18, United Mine union, te be held at Calgary in January to discuss termination of all present contracts expirin= March 31, 1940, are J. Cameron, Sam Emnelish and James Pobert son. Finland Essential! Says Solution impossible With Present Rulers MOSCOW, USSR. — De nouncing as ‘malicious slan- ders’ assertions in ‘the hostile foreign press’ that the Soviet Union threatens the indepen- | dence of Finland and intends to seize Finnish territory, the Soviet Union’s Premier Molo- tov in a speech broadcast to the Soviet people last Thursday de- clared the “only purpose of our measures is to ensure the se— curity of the Soviet Union and especially Leningrad with its population of 3,900,000.” ~ Premier Molotov reviewed the abortive negotiations between the Finnish Cajandes- sovernment and the Soviet government, said the hostile policy pursued by the Fin- nish government “to please foreign imperialists who instigate hostility: towards the Soviet Union” com= pelled the USSR “to take immedi-_ ate measures to ensure the ex- ternal security of our state.” Referring to border incidents provoked by Finnish militarists, Molotoy declared that the Finnish Severnment had replied to the Soviet government’s proposals with “a hostile refusal and brazen denial of facts,” evincing “an un- disguised Striving to keep Lenin- grad under the immediate threat of their troops in the future.” Refuting foreign press claims, Molotoy stated: “The hostile foreign press as- serts that the measures being tak— en by us are aimed at seizure of Finnish territory or its annexation Workers | to the USSR. This is a malicious Slander. The Soviet povernment has had no such intentions. More than that, if Finland herself pur- Sued a friendly Policy toward the Soviet Union, the Soviet fgovern- ment, which always strove for friendly relations with Finland, would be ready to meet her half way in regard to territorial con- cessions on the part of the USSR. “Wunder this condition, the Soviet Ssovernment would be ready favor ably to consider even such a ques- tion as the question of reunitine the Karelian people inhabiting the main districts of present Soviet Farelia with their kindred Finnish People in a single and independent Finnish state. “For this, however, it is neces- Sary that the government of Fin- land should maintain not a hostile, but a friendly attitude toward the USSR which would correspond to the vital interests of both states. NO INDEPENDENCE THREAT, “Others assert that the measures carried out by us are aimed against Finland’s independence or interference in her internal and external affairs. This is an equally malicious slander. “Irrespective of the regime ex- isting in Finland we consider her an independent and sovereign State in her external and internal policies. We firmly hold that the Finnish people should itself decide its internal and external affairs in the manner it itself deems neces- sary. : “St the proper time, the peoples of the Soviet Union did what was nmecessary for the creation of an independent Finland. “The peoples of our country are ready also in the future to render the Finnish people assistance in insuring its free and independent development. ‘The Soviet Union has equally no intention to prejudice to any ex-— tent the interests of other states in Finland. Questions of relations be- tween Finland and other states form a matter of exclusive concern of Finland herself and the ‘Soviet Union does not consider itself én- titled to interfere in this matter. “The only purpose of our meas ures is to ensure: the security of the Soviet Union and especially Leningrad with its population - of 3,500,000. In the present interna- tional atmosphere, heated by war, we cannot make a solution of this vital and urgent state problem: | dependent on the ill will of the/ present Finnish rulers.” No CCF candidates forced withdrawal of ‘Osterhout, Sydney ald Macauley, Gu and F’rom School Board Contest will contest school board vacancies in next Wednesday’s elections, CCF organising committee chairman R. J. Grant announced this week. Difficulties over qualifications or other matters have three proposed candidates, Mildred Wybourn, and Dawson Gordon. Ron- who has withdrawn from ‘the contest, will be replaced by William Wallace, thus leaving the four school board seats uncontested. . CCF candidates in the civic elections are: Ald. Helena tteridse, Ernest Robinson, ex-Ald. Alfred E. Scanlon, for council: Susie Lane Clark, James Corkill W. WN. Wallace, for parks board. parks board Hurry and New Regime Signs Treaty With USSR MOSCOW, USSR.—Text of the treaty on mutual assistance and friendship, concluded between the Soviet government and the newly established Republic of Finland, follows: _ “fhe presidium of the Supreme Sceviet of the USSR -On one side and the government of the Demo-_ cratic Republic of Finland on the other side, being convinced that now when the most dangerous seat Of war, which has been created. Near the borders of the soviet Union by the former Plutocratic Power in Finland to please imper- jalist powers, is being eliminated through the heroic struggle of the Finnish people and through the efforts of the Red Army of the USSR, and when the Punnish people has formed its democratic republic fully relying on the sup- port of the people, the time has come to establish lastines friendly relations between our countries @nG ensure by joint efforts the se- curity and inviolability of our states; recognizing that the time has come for the realization of the age old aspirations of the Finnis4 people for reunion of the Karelian reople with its kindred Finnish Feople in 4 single state of Finland, 2lso with a view to a favorable Settlement, corresponding: to the interests of both parties, of fron- tsex problems, especially “ensurins: the security of Leningrad and the Southern coast of Finland: aiming to strengthen the spirit and funda- mental principles of the Peace Zreaty of Oct. 23, 1920, based on mutual recognition of state inde- pendence and non-intervention in the internal affairs of the other Party, found it necessary to con- Ciude the following treaty on mu- tual assistance and friendship be- tween the Soyiet Union and the Gemocratiec republic of Finland, 4nd appointed for this purpose their authorized representatives; for the presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR: V. M. Molotov, chairman of the Council of People’s GCommissars and People’s Commissar of Foreign Affairs; for Rhe people’s government of Fin- land: Otto EKuusinen, chairman of tas people’s government and min- aster of foreign affairs of Finland, “and these authorized representa-— tives upon mutual presehtation of their credentials found in due form and good order, agreed on the following: ARTICLE 1.—in token of friend- ship and the profound confidence of the -Soviet Union in the Demo- cratic Republic of Finland, meet- ing the national aspirations of the Finnish people for reunion of the Karelian people with the Finnish People in a single and indepen- dent state of Finland, the So- viet Union expresses consent to the transfer to the Democratic Republic of Finland districts of Soviet Karelia with a predominat ing Karelian population—amount-— ing altogether to 70,000 square kil- ometers (27,027 square miles)—— which territory will be included in- to the state territory of the Demo- crétie Republic of Finland. The frontier line between the USSR and the Democratic Republic of Finland is to be established in scecordance with the appended map. In token of friendship and the Profound confidence of the Demo- cratic Republic of Finland in the USSR, meeting the desires of the Soviet Union concernin= the con- solidation of the security of the USSR and especially the City, of Leningrad, the Democratic Repub— lic of Finland expresses its con- Sent to. a certain shifting of the irentiers on the Isthmus of Kare- lia northward from Heningrad and to transfer to the Soviet Union people’s government of the Democratic territory amounting to 3,970 squares kkilometres (1504 square miles), while the USSR considers itself obliged to compensate Binland for the cost of sections of railway lines on the territory of the Kare— lian Isthmus which will be trans— ferred to the USSR, to the amount of 120,000,000 Finnish marks ($2,- 460,000). ARTICLE If.—in the mutual in- terests of the consolidation of the security of the USSR and Finland, the Democratic Republic of Fin- land expresses its consent: firstly, to lease to the Soviet Union for 30 years the Hangoe Peninsula and Surrounding waters in a radius of five miles southward and east- werd and three miles westward 2naq northward, also a number of islands neighboring with it from the South and FEiast in accordance With a map appended hereto, for the purpose of the ereation there of a naval base capable of pro- tecting against apgression the en- trance to the Gulf of Finland in the interests of ensuring the se- curity of Finland and the USSR. For the purpose of protection ot the naval base the Soviet Union is granted the right to maintain there at its own expense armed land and air forces of strictly lim- ited strength whose maximum numbers will be determined by spe- Ciai agreement; secondly, to sell to the Soviet Union the islands of Suursaari (Hogiund), Seiskaari, Lavansaari, Tutesaari (small and big), Kojivitso (Bierke) in the Gul? of Finland and also parts of penin- sular Rybachi and Sredni belong— ing to Finland on the coast of the Arctic Ocean for an agreed sum of 300,000,000 Finnish marks (36,000,000). ARTICLE WL The Soviet Union and the Democratic Repub- lic of Finland undertake to render each other every assistance, includ- ing military, in the event of attack or the threat of attack on Finland and the Soviet Union across the territory of Finland on the pari of any European power. ARTICLE IV.—The contractins’ Parties undertake not to concluds any alliances and not participate in any coalitions directed against one of the contracting parties. ARTICLE V.— Contracting par- ties agreed to conclude a trade treaty within the shortest space of time and to raise the annual trade turmoyver between the two countries considerably higher than it was in 1927, when it reached a Im@eximum figure of 800,000,000 Finnish marks ($16,000,000). ARTICLE Vi—The Soviet Un- ion undertakes to render the People’s Army of Finland assist- ance in armaments and other war materials on favorable terms. ARTICLE YWil—The terms of validity of this treaty in the parr referring to the undertakings on mutual assistance between the USSR and the Democratic Repub- le of Finland (Articles T1T-V) none of the contracting parties deems it necessary to denounce the provi- sions of this treaty for which 2 definite time limit has been set, these provisions automatically re- main in force for another 25 years. ARTICLE Viti — The present treaty comes into foree on the Gate of its signing and is subject to subsequent ratification. The exchange of the instruments of ratification will be effected within the shortest possible space of time in the capital of Finland—the city of Helsinki. No Protest On Spain Malcolm Bruce Hits Press Distertions Of Finnish Dispute Referring caustically to the vicious press campaign against the Soviet Union and the hypo- critical concern for ‘poor little Finland’ in the present Soviet- Finnish dispute, ~Malcolm Bruce, wellknown Communist writer and speaker, addressing a packed audience in Orange hall last Sunday, recalled the lack of protest from these same sources at the bombing and ma- chine gunning of thousands of Spanish civilians by invading fascists. “Moreover,”’ he said, “where were the protests in 1918 when the Germans under Yon der Goltz and White Guards under the Fin- nish General Mannerheim slaugh- tered 100,000 Finnish people and overthrew its legally élected #ov- ernment?” “It is one thing for German war- Ships to appear off Helsingfors in 1918 to protect imperialist inter. ests and quite another thing when Soviet warships are stationed off the Finnish coast in the interests of the working people,” he remari- ed. “Tf Canada started building a Trew of forts and a Pattullo line along the US border like the Miannerheim line, would it be too much if the United States asked that it be removed? That would be similar to the presént Soviet-Finnish dispute.” . Bruce remarked that he person- ally Knew Otto uusinen, head of the Finnish people’s sovernment, as a fearless, unassuming man. Declaring that it was not sur- prising that many honest workers had been carried away by the spate of propagsanda against the Seviet Union and the Communist party, Bruce stated: “The Soviet Union is the outpost of world socialism and anything she does that tends to defend that position against imperialist attack is quite justifiable in this Class struggle. While its Yfor- eign policy may run counter to that of Chamberlain, it is never against the interest of the work ing class.” Charging that powerful inter- estS were at work to divert the Fiuropean war into a ‘crusade’ against the USSR, Bruce said: “Tf the Chamberlain Sovernment is sO concerned about democracy and freedom, why doesn’t it give india its freedom?” He quoted Sir w. Joynson Hicks, who declared in the House of Com- mons in 1925: “We did not conquer JIndia for the benefit of the Indians. I know in missionary meetings it is said that we conquered Idia to raise the level of the Indians. That is cant. We conquered India as the outlet for the goods of Great Bri- tain. We conquered India by the Sword and by the sword we hold it. (Shame!). Gall it shame if you like. IT am ‘Stating facts. I am in- terested in missionary work of that kind, but I am not such a hypocrite as to say that we hold India for the good of the Indians. We hold it as the finest outlet for British goods in general and for Lancashire goods in particular” British official circles had ad- mitted the Soviet action in liberat= ing Byelorussians, Ukranians and Polish Jews had weakened Hitler, Bruce remarked, but reactionaries had assailed this action as Soviet ‘imperialism.’ “Imperialism is a system which seeks the source of raw materials and colonies to carry on exploita— tion,’ he said. “You will find these imperialists in New Zork, London end Paris night clubs, but there are none in the Soviet Union.’ “Where will you find imperialist powers giving a city like Viino back to Lithuania or for that mat ter giving anything back?” he ques- tioned. “Where wyyill you find an imperialist power negotiating for an exchange of territory? They usually just £0 in and take what they want.” William Bennett, widely-known labor columnist, presided st the meeting.