NEED FOR TALKS WITH RUSSIA

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 24043, 3 September 1943, Page 5

NEED FOR TALKS WITH RUSSIA

STATEMENT MADE BY CORDELL HULL ANTAGONISM TO SOVIET DENIED (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 8 p.m.) WASHINGTON. Sept. 2. A Brltish-American-Russian conference to discuss urgent problems was highly desirable, said the United States secretary of State (Mr Cordell Hull), addressing a press conference. Asked if he was prepared to go to London for the parley, he replied that he did net know yet whether the conference would be held. Later, the State Department issued a statement that the Soviet Government had been consulted and kept fully informed by the British and American Governments on all aspects of the military situation as it had developed in connexion with the operations against Italy and other operations in the European theatre, and also respecting the political situations arising directly from the military operations. “Mr Roosevelt intends to send Mr Sumner Welles as an advance envoy to Moscow to prepare for a tripartite meeting of Mr Churchill, Mr Roosevelt, and Mr Stalin,” says the Washington correspondent of the ‘New York Times.” “It is believed that Mr Roosevelt is delaying the official announcement of Mr Welles’s resignation as Under-Secretary of State until he is ready to announce his new status as a roving ambassador.” The correspondent adds that the British Foreign Secretary (Mr R. A. Eden) is probably going on a similar mission for the British Government. Mr Roosevelt said yesterday that a newspaper columnist who had called Mr Hull “anti-Russian” was a “chronic liar.” Mr Roosevelt added; “He'represents the kind of journalism which hurts the press and the country. I am as disturbed as Mr Hull by the comment of this columnist, which is very detrimental to the United States and to the unity of the United Nations." Mr Roosevelt did not mention the columnist’s name, but Drew Pearson, on Monday, wrote in a New York newspaper that Mr Hull was opposed to Russia and wished her to be bled white. Mr Hull yesterday described Pearson’s statement as “a monstrous and diabolical falsehood.” Drew Pearson retorted: “I hope that Mr Hull’s denial stands up better than his recent denial of the resignation of the Assistant-Secretary of State (Mr Sumner Welles).” Mr Welles resigned last week, and It was reported that he took this action because Mr Hull had refused to accept his proposals for closer collaboration with Russia. MR GHURCHILL AT WHITE HOUSE “CONTINUING PHASES OF CONVERSATIONS ” (Hec. 9 p.m.) WASHINGTON. Sept. 2. Mr and Mrs Churchill have arrived in Washington and will spend several days at the White House with Mr Roosevelt. . , ~ White House officials said that Mr Churchill’s visit was not entirely on business. Mr Roosevelt hoped to JD«*ke it partly social. Last night Mr and Mrs Churchill were the guests of the President at a family dinner party. It is officially stated that Mr Churchill and Mr Roosevelt will continue some phases of the conversations begun in Quebec. The official statement adds: “Mr Churchill’s arrival does not represent the beginning of a story, but the conclusion of the one begun m Canada.” WAR WILL END • IN 1945 MR HARRY HOPKINS’S PREDICTION (Rec. 9.20 p.m.) NEW YORK. Sept. 2. Mr Harry Hopkins, writing in the “American Magazine,” predicts that Germany and Japan will both be crushed by 1945, but gives the warning that the loss of Russia from the Allied side would lengthen the war immeasurably. Mr Hopkins emphasises that the Allies will not rely on bombings only, but will mount great, co-ordinated offensives by land, sea, and air, including a huge land assault through France. Mr Hopkins adds: “For a long time the air has been vibrant with hope of a quick victory. We will not get it. Germany and Japan are not a pushover. We have had two years of hard fighting, and increasing sacrifice lies ahead.” COMMENT ON UNREST IN EUROPE “PEOPLES GETTING OFF THEIR KNEES ” LONDON, Sept. 1. The growing unrest in Europe may prove Hitler’s downfall, according to London observers. The “Evening Standard” says that’ the Continent of Europe has taken new shapes in the last few weeks. “What happens in the near future will not be decided in Quebec, Washington, London, or Moscow, but in the back streets of hundreds of European cities,” says the “Evening Standard.” “The peoples ot all the subject lands are getting off their knees, and it is a thrilling spectacle. Bulgaria was the Nazi cornerstone of the Balkans. Npw the cornerstone is loose. Denmark is in turmoil, and the contagion has spread throughout Scandinavia.” The military commentator of the German Overseas News Agency (General Count Stillfried) says that Germany, after four years of war, finds herself in the eyes of the world confined to an attitude of defence and confronted by an enemy superior in men and materials. Speaking over the Berlin radio, Stillfried argued; “There are other laws than armed power, for instance, the better use of labour, food, and raw materials, and more skilful propaganda abroad. But the final factor is the German soldier, who knows that the safety zone round, the Reich frontiers facilitates elastic tactics, and therefore fights convinced of victory.” FOURTH ANNIVERSARY OF WAR NO MENTION BY GERMAN RADIO STATIONS (Rec. 11.30 p.m.) LONDON, Sept. 2. German radio stations all day yesterday did not mention the fourth anniversary of the beginning of the war. In previous years the network •worked full blast with special talks, feature programmes, and _ martial music, but yesterday’s talks informed the German people of the hard necessity of the retreats in Russia and sought to bolster morale against Allied bombings. Solemn music predominated. , Anniversary of Samoa Landing.—A ceremony commemorating the twentyninth anniversary of the landing of New Zealand troops in Western Samoa was held at the Administration buildings at Apia on Monday, when a large gathering assembled.—Apia, September 2. Air Operations Over Burma.—Bad weather prevented much air activity on the Burmese front during the last month, but a report from New Delhi says that 600 river craft operated by the Japanese were destroyed. In addition, British bombers attacked railways, oil tanks, and supply dumps. —London, September L '