Diplomats How Average Londoner Is Thinking

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 153, 30 June 1945, Page 4

Diplomats How Average Londoner Is Thinking

By TREVOR SMITH

Special to Star J LONDON, June 26. ; npfig desperate note of urgency ' which sounded when the next Big ' Three meeting was mooted is no longer Heard, and the which preceded earlier Big Thr meetings is absent. The recent tension between the leaders has been replaced by an easier atmosphere. The Big Three's first job this time is established lines for a world peace settlement in a manner acceptable to world opinion an d sentiment, a prelude to formal European peace discussions at. a moie representative conference table. It is apparently appreciated in the right quarters that any wild out. bursts in Britain and America in advance of the meeting might do a grave disservice to good intentions for establishing a stable world peace. Diplomats, admitting that Russia wants a tranquil Europe, and, above all security, are asking themselves and others what really is behind Marshal Stalin's several recent gestures which so altered and eased the international outlook. They want to know particularly why Russia is suddenly showing a warm feeling towards America.

Part of the answer, they suggest, is that the Kremlin thinks that the recent improvement in Anglo-Ameri-can relations and the close working together of these nations might not, in the long run, be advantageous to the Soviet. Big Changes Anticipated Several changes are anticipated in I high places after the election, and j they are not likely to be affected by [the result. The Chief of the British General Staff, Field-Marshal Sir Alan Brooke, now over 60 and one of the greatest chiefs Britain ever/had, is expected to retire at Christmas and be succeeded by Field-Marshal Sir Harold Alexander, regarded by many as this war's greatest British soldier.

Field-Marshal Montgomery, who rarely hesitates to speak his mind and whose vigorous personality has been known to clash even lately with Mr. Churchill's equally vigorous personality, is also on the list for yet bigger things. It is believed that he will succeed the Earl of Athlone as GovernorGeneral of Canada, although the Canadian High Commissioner in London, Mr. Massey, has been in the running for the job.

Finally, there is Field : Marshal Smuts, who, I believe, wilMsoon become Governor-General of South Africa.

It was generally thought that he would have retired from the Premiership and been succeeded by Mr. Jan Hofmeyer last year, but instead of being able to take the long-vacant Governor-Generalship, Field-Marshal Smuts, because the European war continued, had to carry on as Premier and Commander-in-Chief of the South African Forces.

South Africa finds herself in something of a dilemma. Earlier, she decided against any more imported Governor-Generals, but is a bit sorry now. Australia having secured the Duke of Gloucester, there is no member of the Royal Family available, and the only remaining South African of requisite tonnage is FieldMarshal Smuts himself.