BRITISH-SOVIET TRADE TALKS

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25307, 6 October 1947, Page 7

BRITISH-SOVIET TRADE TALKS

“RUSSIAN REACTIONS VERY LUKEWARM” (Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.) LONDON, October 5. Mpscow messages say that Russian reactions to suggestions that the Eritish-Russian trade talks should be revived are extremely lukewarm. The Russians contend that it is useless to reopen the talks unless Britain is prepared to reconsider her pro-, posals and make substantial concessions. When the talks first commenced Britain was able to offer the convertibility of sterling as an inducement, but this possibility no longer exists. Moreover, the Russians consider that other nations have a greater claim to their grain surplus man Britain. The New York “Herald Tribune,” in its European edition,. say? there is no doubt that British leadership in the Marshall Plan negotiations has antagonised Russian opinion still further. CONGRESSMAN’S VIEW OF EUROPEANS , “DO NOT TAKE THINGS SERIOUSLY ENOUGH” (Rec. 7 p.m.) HAMBURG, October 3. Mr John Taber, chairman of the United States House of Representatives Appropriations Committee, who js a member of the American Congress delegation touring Europe, told a press conference in Hamburg that he noticed po vjsjble signs of undernourishment in Europe, but thought that Europeans did not take things seriously enough. They did not work as energetically as they should, he said. When it was suggested to him that the European countries, without American aid. would be thrown into the arms of Communism, Mr Taber said: “Why should they become Communist?? That would only mean more hunger for them.” Mr Taber said that countries in which the Government exercised dictatorship would not receive American help.