BRITISH-SOVIET TRADE TALKS

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25244, 24 July 1947, Page 7

BRITISH-SOVIET TRADE TALKS

“SHARP DIFFERENCES HAVE ARISEN”

MISSION EXPECTED TO LEAVE MOSCOW (NJZ. Press Association—Copyright) (Nee. 7 p.m.) LONDON, July 22. “The British-Russian trade talks in Moscow have reached a stage at which sharp differences have arisen,” says th’e diplomatic correspondent of Reuters. ‘‘The Russians are insisting on a price for wheat which the British delegation finds itself unable to accept. “In these circumstances, the British delegation’s early return from Moscow is expected.” The diplomatic correspondent of the ♦‘People’’ says that Mr Stalin, in ‘‘be-hind-the-scenes Kremlin diplomacy.” reversed a decision by Mr Molotov, the Foreign and instructed the Soviet Trade Minister, Mr Mikoyan, to increase the latest Russian offer to Britain of 650,000 tons of grain over the next few years to 10 times that amount.

Under the revised offer, Britain would receive 1,000,000 tons of grain in 1947, 1,500,000 tons in 1948, and 2,000,000 tons in 1949 and 1950. The correspondent says that Britain, with this grain in prospect, can threaten to cut her grain-buying from the United States, oring down the price of grain, and compel Washington to revise Article 9 of the loan agreement, which stipulates that if either the United States or British Government imposes or maintains quantitative import restrictions, they shall be administered on a basis which does not discriminate against imports from the other country. The Russian move, the correspondent adds, is aimed at weakening American influence in Europe.

BRITISHU.S. LOAN * AGREEMENT

REPORTED LIFTING OF RESTRICTIONS LONDON, July 22. The Washington correspondent of the British United Press quotes a high official of the Department of State as saying that British non-self-governing colonies will be freed from the trade restrictions imposed by Article 9 of the British-American loan agreement. He added that the exception would not apply to the Dominions or India.

GERMAN TIMBER FOR BRITAIN

SUPPLY FALLS BELOW EXPECTATIONS RUHR COAL SHORTAGE A FACTOR

(Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.) (Rec. 8 p.m.) LONDON, July 23. Reviewing the operations of the British North German Timber Control in its efforts to secure a regular supply of cut timber for British housebuilding from German forests, Mr W. M. Vane. M.P., writing in the ‘‘Daily Telegraph,” says: ‘‘Through a combination of factors, the amount of timber so far obtained has been disappointing. To date the total quantity shipped to Britain through Hamburg is about 1,000,000 tons, but this is substantially less than had been hoped, and is only a fraction of the timber at present being cut in all four zones of Germany. “Unfortunately, the British authorities have been shortsighted enough to let the story spread that the British are denuding the German forests for reparations, and this has further diminished Britain’s reputation with the German public. Actually, timber exported to Britain under this arrangement is set against the cost of food sent to Germany from Britain and is not related to reparations. “Moreover, by far the greatest proportion of timber cut from Germany’s woodlands is being used in Germany itself. One of the chief reasons why the British authorities have not been able to obtain more cut timber is the tremendous levy the Germans are making on the forests for firewood. “The pre-war consumption of firewood in Germany was 1,090,000 tons a year. Now, the official figure is 7,000,000 tons, but there is no doubt that this is greatly increased by ‘unofficial scrounging.’ Much of this timber is quite suitable for industrial and building use.

‘‘Four to five days’ output from the Ruhr pits would prevent this waste and provide sufficient timber to build 500,000 more houses in Britain a year.”

MINING OF CORFU CHANNEL

ALBANIA NAMES AGENT FOR COURT HEARING (Rec. 9.30 P.m.) LONDON, July 23. Albania nas appointed an agent for the hearing before the International Court of Justice at The Hague of the British claim against Albania for full compensation and an apology for the mining of the destroyers Saumarez and Volage in Corfu Channel on October 22, 1946, with the loss of 44 lives. Albania has made the nomination nearly three weeks after the date— July s—which the Court prescribed. The British appointment was made within the prescribed time.

League Player for England.—The Australian Rugby League forward Harry Bath has accepted an offer to play with the Barrow League Club in England at a signing-on fee of £750. Australian clubs have now lost eight prominent players this year to England. The forward Jack Lindwall has rejected a signing-on fee of £lOOO from another English club—Sydney, July 23. Attack on Speed Record Postponed. —After further trials with his speedboat, Bluebird, at Lake Coniston, in Lancashire, yesterday, Sir Malcolm Campbell was to have attacked the world water speed record in the afternoon, but the attempt was postponed, because the water was rough.—London. July 22.