VISIT TO SOVIET ENDED

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25081, 13 January 1947, Page 3

VISIT TO SOVIET ENDED

MONTGOMERY LEAVES FOR LONDON GIFTS FROM MARSHALS OF RED ARMY (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 7.30 p.m.) LONDON. Jan. 11. The marshals of the Red Army at a dinner at the Kremlin yesterday, presented F’eld-Marshal Lord Montgomery. Chief of the Imperial General Staff, with a squirrel-lined Russian general’s greatcoat, valued at £2OOO, and a fur-lined hat which is worn by Russian generals. Field-Marshal Montgomery dressed himself in the outfit and was photographed with Mr Stalin, Mr Molotov, and Marshal Vassilievsky the Chief of the Soviet General Staff, and also with Mr Stalin alone. Field-Marshal Montgomery gave Mr Stalin a case of Scotch whisky. Field-Marshal Montgomery after meeting Mr Stalin, said he looked fine and in good health. Field-Marshal Montgomery, during a long talk at the Kremlin, established the same friendly relations with the Russian leader as he reached with all the Russians he met. Field-Marshal Montgomery reS sated to Mr Stalin that he came to oscow to establish contact with the Russian Army with a view to peacetime co-operation and friendship. Field-Marshal Montgomery has returned to London.

The first fruits of Field-Marshal Montgomery’s visit to Moscow might well be closer military collaboration between Britain and Russia, says the Moscow correspondent of the Associated Press. Observers believe that the British Minister in Moscow, Mr Frank Roberts, will return to London because of developments or promised developments arising out of Field-Mar-shal Montgomery’s visit, which necessitate a personal diplomatic report to the British Foreign Office. The “Manchester Guardian’s” special correspondent in Moscow says FieldMarshal Montgomery’s speech on his arrival in Moscow made an excellent impression. Field-Marshal Montgomery’s tribute to the Soviet Army, his recognition of Russia’s immense sacrifices, and his expressed desire to establish close bonds with the Soviet Army, were also very well received. Field-Marshal Montgomery, on his part,'was most gratified by his friendly reception and particularly by the prompt acceptance of his invitation to Marshal Vassilievsky and other jnembers of the Russian High Command to visit Britain. The correspondent emphasises what has already been emphasised in Britain, that the visit was primarily one of goodwill and that Field-Marshal Montgomery is unlikely to have discussed anv problems other than those with which he is directly concerned as Chief of the Imperial General Staff.

WORLD FOOD PRICES CONCESSION SYSTEM SUGGESTED NEW YORK, January 10. America has suggested to the Food and Agricultural Organisation that the big food-producing countries should adopt a system of concession prices, under which food exporting countries would charge different prices to different purchasers, so that the area enjoying the least prosperity would pay the lowest price. This scheme has found tentative support frohi most food exporting countries, on the grounds that it opens the way for the disposal of future surpluses. Britain, however, is strongly opposed to the whole plan, and a commission is now deep in arguments on its pros and cons. DRAFTING TREATY TERMS VIEWS OF SMALLER POWERS PROCEDURE AT MEETING OF DEPUTIES (Rec. 7 p.m.) LONDON. Jan. 10. Several of the smaller Allies feel the procedure to be adopted in consulting them on Germany and Austria when the Foreign Ministers’ Deputies meet in London will not permit a proper discussion of their Government’s views, says Reuter’s diplomatic correspondent.

They fear the Big Four deputies do not intend to give any opportunity folk a full discussion but want to limiv the small powers to gerieral statements on the future of Germany and Austria. The small powers, want to participate at all stages in the treaty drafting, especially Poland in the case of the German treaty and Jugoslavia in the case of the Austrian treaty. There is very little chance of the Germans being heard in the early stages but later a central German administration may be formed which is able to speak for Germany. ELECTIONS IN PERSIA DEMONSTRATION BY STUDENTS FEW VOTES CAST (Rec. 8 p.m.) TEHERAN. January IL • Ten busloads of university students toured the streets shouting: “Down with Sultaneh” when balloting in the Persian elections began this morning. The polling booths were almost deserted except for police and army guards. Few votes were cast. U.S. EMBASSY IN BELGRADE ALLEGATIONS AGAINST EMPLOYEES AMERICAN NOTE TO JUGOSLAVIA (Rec. 7 p.m.) BELGRADE. Jan. 10. A United States Note which has reached the Jugoslav Foreign Office formally rejects allegations that employees of the American Embassy in Belgrade have been spying or supporting the Jugoslav Government’s opponents. The allegations arose at a recent espionage trial of eight Jugoslavs. TALKS ON BURMA’S FUTURE DEMONSTRATIONS IN RANGOON (Rec. 11.30 p.m.) LONDON. Jan. 11. The “People’s Volunteer Corps” paraded the streets of Rangoon shouting “Down with bloodsucking Imperialism” on the eve of the British and Burmese talks in London, reports Reuter’s Rsngoon correspondent. The demohstration heralded the opening of “Independence Week.” which Mr Thankin Nu, acting-presi-dent of the “Independence Fund,” said might continue indefinitely Mr Thankin Nu. who is widely regarded as the right hand man of Mr Aung San, leader of the Burmese delegation to London, predicted that the delegation would return emptyhanded. He said that nobody in Burma had much confidence in British sincerity.