CHURCHILL’S COMMENT

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 25020, 31 October 1946, Page 7

CHURCHILL’S COMMENT

Stalin’s Replies To Questions

RUSSIAN FORCES IN EUROPE

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 9 p.m.) LONDON, October 30. Mr Chprchill, replying to Mr ’Stalin through the Press Association, ''welcomed Mr Stalin’s assurance that Russia had only 60 divisions in certain occppied territories of Europe, but he pointed out that even 60 divisions on w & r • * Qotin £ would greatly exceed the British and American force? in enemy occupied territory in Europe. Mr Churchill criticised the inability of the Prime Minister, Mr Attlee, and the Minister of State, Sir Hector McNeil, to correct his statement in the House of Commons about 200 divisions. “No one would be more pleased than I to be told that I have peen misinformed,’’ he said. “Mr Attlee and Sir Hector McNeil, however, showed only anxiety at the strength of the Russian mobilised forces. “It is difficult to believe that the. Allies occupying enemy territories do not know the strength of each other’s garrisons. The matter should be cleared up. The present meetings of the United Nations Security Council should provide an opportunity for the fullest and fairest disclosure of the strength of all military forces.” Mr Churchill continued: “I have regard and respect for Mr Stalin and I Will always remember what we went through together.” He added that he wished to see the Russian people who fought so bravely for their native land safe, glorious, ana happy, and he always desired that when the war was won Russia should play a leading part in rebuilding the shattered world.

“By the Anglo-Russian Treaty of 1941 we are bound not to interfere in each other’s internal affairs or system of society. Therefore, I do pot see why we cannot all be friends, help each other and thus advance the whole basic standard of livelikooa of the broad masses of people m every land.” After welcoming Mr Stalins statements about |he 60 divisions, Mr Clpirchill added: “Of coyrse. the figure does not include the Russian concentrations in Lenmgrad and Odessa. I asked the Government whether my estimate of 200 divisions i applied tp the West was excessive, and, T esked the questiop in such a form that it cotild be answered ‘Yes’ or *No/ Considering the difference between 200 divisions and 60 if ought to have been possible, if I was in errpr, fpr a contradictiqn tp have been given, but none was forthcoming.” Criticising the lack of knowledge by the occupying Powers of the strength of each other’s garrisons, Mr Churchill said if woylq be thoyghf that this information would be shared and interchanged as a matter of course and that there would have been a reciprppal inspectiph of the fprees ip the respective zones. “Nothing sweeps away suspicion like facts, and I consider it my duty to continue to press for the facts, *’ he Said. » Mr Churchill said that his information on the Russian garrisons had been based on the strength of 10,000 men to a Russian division. One asked abpyt Mr Stalin’s replies to the United Press questionnaire is why he should have chosen this moment for making his views known, especially as in a week—that is, on Red Army Dpy, November 7—he wiR. have an opportunity of making one of ; hi? usual long statements. Commenting on this, the diplomatic correspondent of “The Times” says that the Soviet authorities are always sensitive to British and American public opinion and they are well aware that since Mr Stalin’s last statement a month ago their actions and policies have been criticised even more strongly than before. Perhaps even if the United .Nations General Assembly was not meeting and the Foreign Ministers’ Council was not about to meet Mr Stalin would have thought it timely to restate Soviet policy, but the holding of the two meetings in New York probably clinched matters for him. The Soviet delegates will probably put forward their policies as strongly as ever, but their motives may be less suspect as a result of Mr Stalin’s statements. The correspondent says Mr Stalin’s statements on Qprrqany are regarded as the most important because it is felt they have brought nearer the possibility of agreement in the impending Four-Power discussions on Germany’s future. London political circles, after giving Mr Stalin’s statement most careful consideration, express the opinion that Mr Stalin deliberately drew a restrained and unprovocative picture of Russia’s general policy in striking contrast to the tone of Soviet daily propaganda. His statement that there were 60 Russian divisions in Eastern Europe and his denial that Russia had developed an atomic bomb were obviously designed to silence alarmists. It is noted that Mr Stalin declined to be drawn into counter-attacks against the West when questioned about British troops in Greece and American warships in the Mediterranean.

Comment in U.S. Officials of the United States Department of State said that Mr Stalin’s answers indicate that Russia may soon join Britain and America in establishing German economic unity. The United Press says . that observers in Washington viewed Mr Stalin’s replies as an effort to placate world opinion, the United Nations Assembly session, and the forthcoming Foreign Ministers’ meeting. These circles described Mr Stalin’s answer on Russia’s use of the veto as “typical—what else could he say?” They added that Mr Stalin’? condemnation of Mr Churchill was the same as he previously made from Moscow. The United Press quotes Mr Paul Hasluck, Australian delegate to the United Nations Assembly, as saying that Mr Stalin’s answers were very interesting. Mr Hasluck pointed out that Mr Stalin’s attitude to atomic energy shows no change, as Russia has always favoured international control. but through national ag«n«i«s. Mr Hasluck expressed the opinion that Russia was beginning to feel concerned about world opinion. Canadian Official Sentenced—The Canadian Supreme Court sentenced James Scotland Benning to five years* imprisonment for communicating confidential information to Russia in war time while he was an official of tfae Munitions Department—Ottawa, Octobar aft.