TALKS VITAL

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 66, Issue 58, 18 December 1945, Page 3

TALKS VITAL

PROBLEMS FOR MOSCOW RUSSIA’S ATTITUDE DISCUSSED (N.Z. Press Association— Copyright.) (Rec. 1.30 p.m.) LONDON, Dec. 17. “Fateful,” “eleventh hour at- - tempt” and “essential prologue to the General Assembly of the United Nations” are descriptions given here to the meeting of three Foreign Ministers in Moscow.

It is considered that prospects of the United Nations’ Organisation will practically be decided by the way the conference develops. If the three ministers are, unable to find a common rgound for a workable understanding before the General Assembly meets, their dissensions, would wreck the new organisation almost before it is launched. But because of the general realisation of the need for agreement, the outlook is not unpromising, although the difficulties are real and stubborn.

Little news of the progress of the Moscow talks is l likely to be given until a definite stage has been reached.' Censorship has been reimposed by the Russians so that the veil of secrecy will be as heavy as that which hung over the Potsdam Conference. Whether this censorship is a temporary measure to. coyer the period of the conference or is a more general recision of the policy of relaxation introduced last month is not yet clear. It may be a precaution against “leakages.” It is thought that the three Foreign Ministers) will first discuss those questions which are the immediate cause of mistrust and lack of co-operation which have characterised relations between Russia and the West since the breakdown of the London conference.

The most troublesome among these problems' is American insistence on retaing full control in Japan, notwithstanding a persistent Russian demand for a control commission similar in status and power to those established in former enemy States in Europe. This disagreement over Japan has seriously aggravated Soviet-American rivalry on the Chinease mainland. In the past the Americans pointed to the unco operative attitude of the Russians in North China and Korea, and have become more admant in refusing to accept joint control in Jqpan. Problem of Persia

This in turn encouraged a more unaccommodating attitude on the part of the Russians. Disagreement over the Balkan regime and Russia’s policy in Persia constitute other main topics. If Russia is willing to adopt an attitude toward Bulgaria and Rumania similar to that which she has recently shown in the case of Hungary and Austria, the solution of the Balkan, issue is regarded as possible. The problem of Persia is complicated by the fact that the Western Powers. are in the dark about Russia’s real intentions. Her immediate aim apparently was to induce the Teheran authorities to deal directly and solely with her in settling the North Persian issue. In this the Russians appeared to have succeeded when, the Persian Foreign Minister flew to Moscow. Now however, the Persians are hoping to he allowed to present their case at. the meeting of the. three Foreign Ministers.

Some pertinent remarks on the conference are made by the “Manchester Guardian” in a leading article. It states: “Never has a conference been arranged more clearly for the one aim of pleasing Russia.” It adds: “At first sight it is not easy to see why Russia should cling so tenaciously to the idea of Big Three diplomacy when her partners have so plainly shown their distaste for it. As is so often the case, the answer must be sought not so much in Russia’s wishes as in Russia’s fears. No-one can doubt that the Soviet Government is still haunted by the fear of isolation. Neither her immense power nor her victory over Germany has yet effaced this deep impression. To-day Russia clings to the principle of the Big Three because she sees in it the only sure guarantee against her isolation. As long as the three Great Powers keep together she is safe. Once this is understood, Russian policy is more easily explained. She is opposed to any alliance between the countries of Western Europe because she is convinced that this will become, in time, an anti-Russian alliance. She is determined that the countries of Eastern Europe shall have governments friendly to her, because only in that way can she be sure they will not be enticed into such an alliance. “She is suspicious of any proposals to make the United Nations more ‘democratic’ because she fears that she will always be outvoted by the great majority of small (and, capitalist) States in Europe and South America. To say that all these fears are illusory, that neither Britain nor the United States lias the least intention of attacking her, is not a satisfactory answer. Because Russian fears are unjustified it does not mean that they are not important, or that they can he laughed aside. They are, on the contrary, perhaps important in the world to-daly, since they are the fears of a giant. For this reason alone it may be necessary- for Britain and the United States to accept the principle of the Big Three, if only in limited form, long after they themselves would like to abandon it.”