RUSSIA’S PLANS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 70, Issue 127, 14 March 1950, Page 3

RUSSIA’S PLANS

DEAL WITH U.S. SPHERES OF INFLUENCE (N.Z.P.A.—Copyright) , NEW YORK, March 12. "American officials, believe that Russia is now making a determined effort to arrange a ‘spheres-of-influence’ deal with the United States,” says the diplomatic correspondent of the “New York Times,” James Reston, in a dispatch from Washington. “Russia hopes to build a Communist federation from Eastern Germany to the Pacific. Recent events suggest that the Soviet Union is trying, first, to minimise or eliminate Western influence in all the Communist satellite' States, and, second, to achieve a settlement under which the Western nations would adopt a handsoff policy throughout the whole Communist area, including China and Yugoslavia, and do most of their business with the satellites through Moscow. “Washington officials say that pressure on the United States in the satellite States is increasing, but that Russia herself has recently been giving more leeway to Western diplomats .and journalists. Mr Stalin apparently wants a free hand to deal with Titoism in Yugoslavia and other* Communist nations. If the West agreed to a hands-off settlement Russia then would be able to create her Communist federation without outside interference.

“The United States is understood to be firmly opposed to any such deal. However, it is felt that she may be forced out of East Europe entirely once she rejects these peace offers.”