CHARGE AGAINST AUSTRALIA

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 66, Issue 271, 28 August 1946, Page 6

CHARGE AGAINST AUSTRALIA

MR BEASLEY SPEAKS WARMLY SOVIET DELEGATES “PERFORM” (N.Z. Press Association —Copyright.) (Rec. 12.45 p.m.) PARIS, Aug. 27. The Ukrainian delegate, at a meeting of the Balkans Commit- . tee of the Paris conference, said he was astonished at the lightheartedness with which Australia proposed to scaie down reparations.

The delegate said she was magnanimous at other people’s expense. The commission would have more power than the conference itself. The Slavic hloc lined up solidly against the Australian proposal for a reparations commission the conference.

Delegates from Yugoslavia, White Russia, Poland, Finland and Czechoslovakia opposed the proposal, after which the committee adjourned. Sir Hector McNeil (Britain)'* at a meeting of the Italian committee, suggested establishing a sub-committee to study any new facts becoming available, or to seek new information required. He added that all information was at present available at the secreretariat. He agreed with Mr Vyshinsky that it should not be necessary to restart three months’ work.

Mr J. A. Beasley replied to the charges made by Mr Vyshinsky that Australia was delaying the work of the conference in submitting so many amendments. He declared that of all the delegations, it was the Soviet which was doing that. “We are not going to be timid because one Power feels big at the moment.” Mr Beaslev spoke warmly in reference to Australia being 10,000- miles away. “We may be 15,000 miles from Europe, but we fought two wars in Europe, and lost some of our best men The Associated Press says the Russian delegation gathered round Mr Vyshinsky and laughed togetliei throughout Mr Beasley’s attack.' Mr W R. Hodgson announced that he would withdraw the Australian proposal in favour of a French pioposal that sub-committees be established for fact-finding, when deemed necessary.

This was agreed to. The military committee for four hours again discussed without result the question of hearing Views of nonmember or ex-enemy States. Greece and Yugoslavia have both asked for seats at the council table when the Security Council discusses Albania’s application for membership. Already named in the Ukrainian complaint charging Greece, with fomenting war against Albania, the Greeks took a surprise step in asking for a direct voice in the membership issue which heads the agenda for the Security Council session on August 28.

HEATED LANGUAGE VYSHINSKY AND BEASLEY (Rec. 1.30 p.m.) PARIS, August 27. x Language rarely heard ah an international conference was used by Mr J. A. Beasiey in an outburst against Mr Vyshinsky in the Italian political territorial committee, says the correspondent of “The Times.” ' f * Mr Beasley accused the Russians of thrusting their fists down the throats of anyone opposing them. “1 am not going to be bounced or bullied by anybody. That lias been the Australian attitude throughout its history.” Thumping' the table, Mr Beasley added: “There are others around this table who feel the same as we do. We will not be intimidated. We will say what we like. ’ It is important that others should say so. If this intimidation is countenanced, then one of fyhe most important of the four freedoms—freedom from fear—would disappear.” “The Times” says, then came the dramatic moment. Mr - Vyshinsky shot out the sentence: “Let, the Australian delegation say all that is in his mind.”

Mr Beasley, turning to Mr Vyshin-, sky and shaking his fist, cried: “You had a lot to say. You have done very well, but we are also in the ring, and we are going to say what we like.”

“The Times” added that tension in the last few days has increased between the Russian and Australian delegations, which represent the two extremes in the conference.