“POSSIBLY DECISIVE.”

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 63, Issue 271, 26 August 1943, Page 3

“POSSIBLY DECISIVE.”

NEXT THREE MONTHS IN EUROPE OPINION IN WASHINGTON. NEW YORK, Aug. 25. “Very high quarters in Washington talk of the next three months as possibly decisive in Europe,” says the Washington correspondent of the “New York Times.” “They do not rule out a breakdown of German resistance within five months, assuming an intensification of Allied bombing with or without invasion. “This belief results from the Quebec conference. Mr Churchill’s call for confidence, linked with the devastating bombing of Berlin, is interpreted as justifying more optimism regarding -a, German collapse than w/s sanctioned by the cautious speech last week by Mr J. F. Byrnes (chairman of the United States War Production Board).

“Informed circles consider that Mr Churchill and Mr Roosevelt seek a ‘limited revolution’ in the Axis countries, meaning the overthrow of the Fascist and Nazi regimes without the overthrow of authority capable of maintaining order.

“Washington observers also conclude from the conference that British-American-Russian relations still do not ensure solidarity of the tljree Powers after the war. They say that the attitude to be adopted towards Germany is a major, unsettled issue between Britain and America and Russia.”

The correspondent of the London “Daily Mail” who covered the conference at Quebec, says: “Mr Roosevelt in recent months five times invited M. Stalin to meet him, suggesting variously Iraq, Cairo, Ireland, Alaska, 01 the United States. “A conference among Britain, America, and Russia, both to deal with existing difficulties and as an aftermath of Quebec, is becoming increasingly probable, according to wellinformed quarters in London. It is not likely to be on the Stalin-Roose-velt-Churchill level, but Mr Maisky is coming back to London soon befoie finally returning to Moscow, and he might be Russa’s envoy.” The Quebec correspondent of the United Tress says that a meeting among Britain, America, and Russia may be held before Mr Churchill returns to England. It is known that Mr Churchill will go to Washington where his talks with Mr Roosevelt will he resumed.