DISCUSSIONS ON GERMANY

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25427, 25 February 1948, Page 7

DISCUSSIONS ON GERMANY

INVITATION SENT TO BENELUX STATES LONDON, February 23. Britain has invited Holland, Belgium, and Luxembourg to join the three-Power discussions on Germany on agenda items of direct interest to them. • Among the items for discussion will be Germany’s part in the European recovery programme, control of the Ruhr, security against Germany, and reparations. Also on the list is how political and economic organisations should be developed. While the conference was holding its first session, the Soviet Ambassador (Mr Zarubkin) called at the Foreign Office and was handed a Note in which the British Government rejected the Soviet protest at the holding of the meeting. The British Note denied that the three-Power meeting was a violation of the Potsdam Agreement.

The United States and France, the other two Powers at the conference, had also rejected the Soviet protest.

The Czechoslovak and Jugoslav Ambassadors were given copies of the Note tp the Soviet. ITALY’S FORMER COLONIES BIG FOUR DISAGREE ON PROCEDURE LONDON, February 23, “The Foreign Ministers' deputies who are discussing the iormer Italian colonies have reached a fundamental difference on procedure.” says Reuter’s diplomatic correspondent. “The Soviet delegation to-day proposed that the interested Governments should give their views, starting on March 16, before receiving the investigating commission’s report. Britain, France, and the United States, however are of the opinion that it would be absurd if the interested Governments could not express their views on the commission’s report. “The deputies have set up a committee to attempt, to reconcile the views.”

HOUSING PROGRAMME FOR U.S.

PRESIDENT ASKS FOR RENT CONTROLS

(Rec. 7 pan.) WASHINGTON, Feb. 23. President Truman has asked Congress for strong rent controls and a 10-year housing programme. The aim is 1,000,000 houses a year, built to suit ail pockets. Therefore, says the President, builders must find ways to reduce their costs.