"negotiations preceding" . . "issued similar demands" . . "Soviet provocations" . "demanded by the Soviets before the war" . . "Soviet pre-war demands" . "negotiated with the Finns" . . . "similar request" . "close relations" . "started unsuccessful negotiations" . . "Background of the Winter War" . "enter similar negotiations" . "start secret negotiations" . "Background of the Winter War" . "rejected similar Soviet demands" . "earlier negotiations" .