Echoes From Big Three Conference

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 304, 24 December 1945, Page 5

Echoes From Big Three Conference

MIDDLE EAST POSERS

What Russia May Desire From Turkey And Persia

N.Z.P.A.—Copyright— Rec. 12.30 p.m.

LONDON, December 23

The Foreign Ministers of Britain, the United States and Russia to-day concluded the first week of the Three-Power Conference with an informal meeting at M. Molotov's office in the Kremlin, says Reuter's Moscow correspondent. This was the third private session in addition to six formal meetings.

American sources continue to suggest that the informal talks are making good progress in a "warm, human atmosphere. ,.

The three Foreign Ministers after to-day's talk attended an official luncheon given by the United States Ambassador to Moscow. Mr. Averell Harriman.

During the afternoon Generalissimo Stalin received the American Secretary of State, Mr. Byrnes, with M. Molotov. Mr. Harriman was also present.

The Moscow correspondent of the Associated Press says experts were excluded from the meeting on Friday, only interpreters accompanying the principals.

The diplomatic correspondent of the Observer says that although complete official silence is maintained about the Foreign Ministers' meetings, indications are available that the most difficult outstanding issues concern the Middle East. Signs are increasing that Russian policy in Persia aims not only at the virtual separation of Azberbaijan from Persia, but also at installing a government of Russiani choice in Teheran. The Russian war of nerves against Turkey has been simultaneously intensified.

These moves suggest the, wish to make the Black Sea a Russian mare nostrum, with its coasts as a springboard for expanding Russian) influence in the Eastern Mediterranean. Such a policy would directly threaten the vitals of the British. Empire. The correspondent adds that the contrast between Russia's forward policy in the Middle East and her moderate policy in the Far East is not overlooked in London. It explains a certain reserve which London feels regarding optimistic American forecasts about the Moscow Conference. Britain will not be a party to a Middle East "Munich." Kurdish tribesmen have joined forces with the besieged Rezaieh garrison, which is the last Azerbaijan town held by the Persian Government forces still holding out against the autonomous forces, says Reuter's correspondent in Teheran. The Kurds, who had always opposed the Persian Army's authority, are now actively aiding the regular Persian forces against the Assyrians, Caucasians and the Democrats, but their reserves of arms and ammunition are reported to be insufficient to make a decisive contribution. The Associated Press correspondent in Teheran says polite Russian Embassy consular officials continue to withhold permits for foreign newspapermen and American) State Department officials to visit Northern Persia. They explain that the military commandants have not approved the applications. The Istanbul newspaper Vakit said that if Russia should not drop her claims Turkey would undoubtedly envisage war. Repudiating the claims of Soviet Georgia, other Turkish mewspaper comment stressed the fact that Turkey is not prepared to surrender any of her territory.