MOSCOW TALKS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 195, 19 August 1942, Page 5

MOSCOW TALKS

WORLD COMMENT

Political Defeat For Nazi

Germany

United Press Association—Copyright Rec. 12.30 p.m. LONDON, Aug. 18.

Comment and speculation on the Churchill-Stalin talks are given prominence throughout the world today. They are as varied as the tongues in which they are spoken or written. The United Nations' Press and radios hail the conversations as strengthening the co-ordination of the war effort. The Americans feature speculation as to whether the second front or the strengthening of the Caucasus was the primary military discussion.

The neutral Swiss radio declares that Mr. Churchill's jcui*ney proves that political and military relations between Russia and Britain have been tightened and strengthened. The Axis radio is cynical. The Japanese declares that Mr. Churchill is again tiding over a critical situation in his own country at the expense of others.

Russian comment describes the talks as a great political defeat for Hitler. The Moscow paper Pravda says that the conversations are of great historical importance, marking a further step in consolidating the forces against the Hitlerite front and establishing a landmark on the road to a further consolidation of the free peoples. The paper says that Germany and her vassals are mortally afraid of the unified and vigorous action of the anti-Hitlerite bloc. The favourable outcome of these negotiations is equal to a great political defeat for Hitlerite Germany. "The enemy is straining all his forces," the paper says. "He has mobilised all his reserves and bared other vulnerable points of his front in Europe to achieve success on the Russian front. The unification of the efforts of the anti-Hitlerite coalition regarding the conduct of the war in Europe, and the unflinching resolution to carry it to victory, wifl upset all the enemy's plans and calculations and bring the hour of victory nearer." Early Meeting of Parliament The Evening News (London) savs that the vociferous amateur strategists, who know when, where and how a second front ought to be opened, should now take a prolonged holiday. They can rest assured that every aspect and detail of a second front in Europe have been examined thoroughly and discussed at Moscow and the appropriate decisions have been taken.

The Evening Standard savs that the PSrliamentarv recess will be interrupted to allow Mr. Churchill to report on the Russian conversations.

The resumption will be brief, probably one or two days, and will probably be in open session. It has been revealed that Mr. Churchill and General de Gaulle, leader of Fighting France, conferred at length in Cairo on all subjects relative to British and French cooperation in the Middle East.

General Smuts, referring to his conversation with Mr. Churchill in Cairo, said that the talks in Egypt and at the Moscow conference are likely to have a far-reaching effect on the conduct of the war. He added that, during his conversation, all aspects of the war situation were fully reviewed. Important exchanges of views occurred on all major issues. British-American Press Approval "M. Stalin and Mr. Churchill met as chiefs of the armed forces of two mighty Allies," says the Moscow correspondent of the Dailv Telegraph. "They took decisions in constant consultation with the Chiefs of btaffs and a galaxy of high army talent. A nation does not send its best generals thousands of miles merely to talk politics."

The Moscow correspondent of The Times says the presence of Britain's war planners in Moscow will do much to restore complete confidence because it will be interpreted to mean that Britain's intervention in Europe does not lie far ahead.

The Times says the meeting should ensure that any cobwebs which hitherto may have obscured the corners of the military situation are swept away. The two countries together face with the fullest confidence the dangers of the most urgently critical months of the war

The New York Times, in a leading article, said Mr. Churchill has visited Moscow m one of the great crises of tne war as he twice visited Washington for direct consultation with leaders of the Allied Governments. President Roosevelt was kept fuliv informed of the questions discussed in Moscow and undoubtedly participated in the decisions reached.

The decisions covered not onlv the Caucasus and the i liddle East, but the moot question rLIwK° n 2 front Time alone will reveal the decisions made, but whateyer they are they can hardly be more important than this fre=h of the close and friendlv ? Prevailing between !Hwo°c:rS.T" lv °

BRAVERY REWARDED

>1. STALIN'S SON AT THE FRO N'T Rec. 2 p.m. MOSCOW. Aug. IS. M. Stalin's son. Colonel Vassilv Stalin, is now in action on the southern front. He has been promoted to the command of an air fighter group. In June he was awarded *he Order of the Red Banner for valour during a front-line action.