AMERICAN LOAN TO BRITAIN

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24741, 5 December 1945, Page 7

AMERICAN LOAN TO BRITAIN

CABINET CONSIDERING TERMS

NEGOTIATIONS NEARLY ENDED

(N.Z. Press Associatiun—Copyright) __ _ LONDON, December 3. The British Cabinet met to-day to consider the proposed terms for the United States loan to Britain. A political correspondent says that official opinion in London indicated that the area of disagreement is harrowing somewhat.

The Prime Minister (Mr Attlee) told o (Questioner in the House of Commons that all the interests likely to be affected could not be consulted before a decision was reached, but there would be an opportunity in the House for discussion.

The sudden .flight of the Secretary of the Treasury (Sir Edward Bridges; to Washington strongly suggests that the financial ‘ talks are reaching a climax,” says “The Times” in a leading article. “There is urgent need for a strong rebuttal of the allegation that the only impediment to an effective economic agreement is the opposition of Socialist Ministers in London to unshackling British trade. “British opinion will not be misled by these distortions, but there is no small danger that an unfortunate impression may be produced in America. Whatever the terms of the agreement which may soon be signed, no genuine understanding is possible unless opinion in the United States is fully aware that the issues of State responsibility for the course of foreign trade and exchanges are a national and not a partisan concern in Britain. The work of the mission in America has enjoyed the widest national backing. "The British and American financial and economic ' negotiations in Washington are expected to conclude shortly, when an immediate statement will be made in the House of Commons,” says the special correspondent of the New Zealand Press Association. “One outcome of these talks, It is observed, is that Britain and the Dominions will almost certainly discuss the fate of Imperial preference early in 1946.

"It is reported that the Government’s reply last week to America’s draft terms for a loan of £1,000,000,000 stipulated that Britain could not commit herself to a reduction in Imperial preference tariffs or to the scaling down of her £3,500,000,000 war debt to the Empire without prior discussions. These will be held informally. Their outcome will depend entirely upon whether or not America herself is willing to reduce import tariffs. “Meanwhile, support for Imperial preference is said to be becoming stronger than at any time since its inception in 1932.’* • PRESIDENCY -OF BRAZIL GENERAL DUTRA IN LEAD (Kec. 11 p.m.) BUENOS AIRES, Dec. 3. General Enrico Dutra, who is described as a Socialist Democrat candidate, has a substantial lead in the Brazilian Presidential election, although only a small percentage of the votes has been counted. The latest returns show that General Dutra has polled 54,000 votes; and General Eduardo Gomez (National Democrat) 29,000. There are two other candidates. General Dutra was supported during the campaign by the former President, Dr. Vargas, who was recently deposed.

COMMUNICATIONS CONFERENCE

AGREEMENT ON MANY MAIN MATTERS

DECISIONS IMPORTANT TO N.Z.

(Rec. 7.30 p.m.) BERMUDA, Dec. 3. Apart from the final plenary session scheduled for to-morrow, the work of the Telecommunications Conference finished with agreement on many important matters, which has given satisfaction to both sides. The results for both New Zealand and Australia have a two-fold importance —their effect on the telecommunications system as a world-wide whole and the particular application which the conference’s decisions have for those countries’ share of the system. The Americans’ recognition of the British Commonwealth principle of a system balanced, as between cable and radio, throttled a threatening ruinous competition between the two means of communications.

This point was especially important for New Zealand and Australia, for whom cables must remain long, stable lifelines until radio can give uninterrupted secret service 24 hours a day. 365 days a year.' The British Commonwealth delegates put on record—and the Americans could not refute it —that such a radio service was still many years from realisation. The conference showed a wideawake appreciation of technical developments. The mof t important decision in this, field concerned a remarkable teletypewriter method, which impressed the delegates as sounding the deathknell for Morse sending as it makes telegraphing by cable and radio as simple as typewriting. The conference’s move to standardise teletypewriter equipment internationally is regarded as certain to achieve the desired objective.

ADVANCE INTO MANCHUKUO

CHINESE TROOPS NEAR MUKDEN

NO OPPOSITION FROM COMMUNISTS

(Rec. 10 p.m.) CHUNGKING, Dec. 3. Chinese Nationalist troops are advancing without opposition to within 30 miles of Mukden, in Msnchukuo. The “China Times” says the troops of the free lance, General Hsueh Shih, entered Mukden last week. It is not known whether they will support the Nationalists or the Communists.

It is reported that peace talks between the Communists and' the Nationalists will be resumed on December 10.

INDIAN PRINCE ON TRIAL

COLLABORATION WITH JAPANESE

NEW DELHI, December 3, The Prince of the tiny State of Chitral, long-haired, heavily-bearded, and wearing British-style battledress, appeared before a court-martial charged with making war against the Crown and murder. He is Captain Barhauddin, who was a captain in the British Indian Army before becoming an officer in the Japanese-sponsored Indian National Army. Counsel for the defence maintained that the court had no jurisdiction, as the accused, who is a brother of the ruler of Chitral, was not a British Indian subject, and the alleged offences were all committed' outside British India.

The,Couft agreed to the prosecution’s request for an adjournment

English Dock Workers’ Dispute.—The three week’s truce in the English dock workers’ dispute ends to-morrow, but the men have decided to stay at work while a report on their case, is prepared. The report is expected to be ready by the end of the week.—London, December 3.