MUTUAL ASSISTANCE PACTS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 66, Issue 169, 1 May 1946, Page 3

MUTUAL ASSISTANCE PACTS

U.S. PROPOSAL TO BIG FOUR DISARMAMENT OF AXIS POWERS (N.Z. Press Association —Copyright.) LONDON, April 30. America has proposed to Britain, France and Russia the_ signature of 25-year mutual assistance pacts to ensure Japanese and German disarmament after the joint occupation of each country. Mr James F. Byrnes (Secretary of State) announced this after a fivehour session of the Foreign Ministers’ Conference in Paris. Mr Byrnes said that with the support of'Britain and France, lie attempted to insert the projected treaty covering Germany (contained in a secret document sent to the Three Powers three months ago) in the conference agenda. Mr Molotov (Soviet) objected to this course. Britain and France agreed to the treaty in principle, and Russia was prepared to discuss tlie question. Mr Byrnes declined to comment, on the proposed pact relating to Japan, because it had not yet been discussed with the Pacific Powers. The treaty regarding Germany varied only slightly from the military agreement and provided for the inspection of Germany by agents from the four Allied Powers to ensure against violating. Iq the event of violation Allied Military Headquarters would decide what military action would be taken, either by air of ground forces, to enforce the disarmament terms. Vital Question at Moment Mr Byrnes said lie discussed the treaty with Generalissimo Stalin during Christmas, 1945. Generalissimo Stalin at Yalta and on other occasions expressed fears that America would withdraw from Europe as after 1918. Reuter’s Paris correspondent says Mr Molotov disagreed with the discussion of the German treaty on the grounds that future disarmament was of secondary importance and the vital question was effective and immediate disarmament. Mr Molotov made a counter-proposal that a' commission of inquiry be sent to investigate the present disarmament to verify whether the Potsdam Agreement was being satisfactorily implemented. Other delegates opposed this on the grounds that the Allied Control Commission already possesses the necessary powers.