WESTERN UNION CONFERENCE

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25440, 11 March 1948, Page 7

WESTERN UNION CONFERENCE

i 3 Progress Towards » Military Paet 1 ‘ HITCH CAtISEt) BY i COLONIES J (N.Z; Press Association—Copyright) . (Rec. 7 p.fn.) BRUSSELS, March 9. > The five-Power Western Unioh con- ; ferertcb has dhnbunced progress to- . wards a military alliance, blit has ’ denied that it will ask for American . military backing. A conference spokesman said the delegates had agreed on further points of “mutual defence and procedure for consultation.” It is understood that the military proposals involve a solidly interwoveh five-way military alliance instead of individual bilatbral pacts. The chief Belgian delegate said the conference was studying an important British countet-propdsal which had Frehbh approval. The proposal dealt with co-operative defence, besides political and ecohbrhlc aspects. “The conference has already accepted the principle of automatic mutual assistance in Europe, but certain technical difficulties have arisen •bn military co-operation in ovbhsea territories,” says the Brussels cortespbhdent of “The Times.” “Other Questions not ybt settled are the definition of aggressor, procedure for the execution bi the treaty after it has been signed, and the place of the International Court of Justice iri disputes on the interpretation of the treaty or disputes with other parties. “The French are still insisting that Germany should be mentioned as a possible aggressor, and are also anxious that complications in their - Far East territories should not be brought before the International Court.”* CAMPAIGN AGAINST COMMUNISM SOCIAL DEMOCRAT PARTY IN SWEDEN (.Rec. 9.3 d p.mj LONDON, March 10. “The Swedish Democratic Party is starting a big propaganda campaign against Communism,” 1 says the Stockholm correspondent of “The Times.” “The Prime Minister (Mr Tage Erlander) said that the campaign had ,nbt been co-ordinated with Denmark and Norway, but , that co-operation among the Social Democratic parties of the three Scandinavian countries was so close that it virtually amounted to the same thing. “Anti-Communist feeling is growing in Sweden, and all parties are demanding that the Communists be exposed as potential Quislings. Mbny warning voices also emphasise the deficiencies of Sweden’s defences ill case of coups or war.” COMMUNISTS IN ITALY WARNING BY PRIME MINISTER (Rec. 7 p.m.) ROME, March 9. Speaking at Vercelli, the Italian Prime Minister (Mt A. de Gasperi) warned Italians against the activities of the Communist minority. He said: “We don’t want to end up another Czechoslovakia.” The Socialist leader (Mr Pietfo Nenhi) told an audience at Monfalcone that a Leftist victory at the elections bn April 18 wotild opeh the way for a heavy flow bf Russian-Italian trade. If the Leftists won they would, not fdil to stabilise good relatiohs with Russia. HUNGARIAN ENVOY RESIGNS (Rec. 7 p.m.) LONDON, March 9. The Hungarian Minister in London (Mr Stepheh Bede), has resigned A Hungarian spokesman said it was understood that Mr Bede, who is a

member of the Hungarian Social Democrat Party, disagreed with the party’s recent decision to merge with the Communists. •