TALKS ON WESTERN DEFENCES

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25553, 22 July 1948, Page 5

TALKS ON WESTERN DEFENCES

U.S. And Canadian Officers Reach London PARTICIPATION AS OBSERVERS . (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 11.30 p.m.) • LONDON, July 21. United States and Canadian staff officers have arrived in London to participate as observers in the work of the military committee of the Western Union. The American delegation is headed by Major-General Lyman Lemnitzer, Deputy Commandant of the United States National War College, and includes two other officers of general rank. The diplomatic correspondent of the “Daily Herald” describes their arrival as the first and very important outcome ( of the discussions which have been going on in Washington on the possibilities of American and Canadian aid of various kinds to the defence system of the West. The discussion has now passed from a political to a technical plane, the correspondent adds, and all practical problems will now be thoroughly examined and worked out. It is the most definite step taken so far towards associating the United States with the West European security system. Reuter’s diplomatic correspondent says: “The decision that United States and Canadian observers will attend all future meetings of the Western Union’s military committee is inter, preted in diplomatic quarters in London to mean that the rumoured North Atlantic defence bloc now exists, and that the Western Powers are now assured of substantial military aid.”

DECISIONS AT THE HAGUE

Reuter’s correspondent at The Hague reports that the Western Union Foreign Ministers are believed to have agreed on the next move in the Berlin crisis. It is assumed, he adds, that the next move will be an approach to Moscow paving the way for some form of four-Power discussions. It is not thought that such an approach will in-

volve the retraction of the previous condition that new four-Power negotiations must be preceded by the lifting of the Berlin blockade. The correspondent of the British United Press at The Hague says that the Foreign Ministers declared their opposition to any showdown with Russia over Berlin. The Ministers were especially opposed to any spectacular attempt to break the Berlin blockade. They urged that everything possible be done to resume four-Powhr negotiations. The correspondent adds: *‘A United States report on Western Union defence which was discussed by the

Foreign Ministers, warned them that several years might elapse before an American programme of military aid became a reality. “The Western Union countries supported the United States’ view that American aid would only supplement their own efforts, but they wanted to know how far they could rely on United States’ aid before drafting their own plans for building ports, railways and stocks of arms in the event of war." The Foreign Ministers yesterday issued a communique saying that they had broadly exchanged views on a number of international problems, including Germany. “The Ministers were clearly in agreement on these problems,” it saitf The communique added that the five Governments would “defend their independence, integrity and institutions in co-operation with States animated by the same ideals.” Before the conference ended, Mr Bidault (France) formally moved the creation of a European assembly to include the Western Union Powers and “other States which might want to participate in the vast enterprise.’’. Mr Bidault also moved the creation of the customs union among the Western Union countries and other European nations wishing to join. Mr Ernest Bevin (Britain) and Mr Spaak (Belgium) agreed Jn principle with the French proposals, but rejected them as impracticable at present. Mr Bevin said when he returned to London: ’ "We had very satisfactory talks." Reuter’s correspondent in Paris says that well-informed quarters regard the result of the talks as a success for Mr Bidault's policy of moderation towards Russia. “It is stated." he adds, “that the i United States is now prepared to ac- ' cept a four-Power conference on the Foreign Ministers' level provided the : Berlin blockade is lifted, whereaa a week ago the United States was not prepared to go as far as that. The chances of settling the Berlin dispute without war are still regarded in Paris as fairly favourable.”

GENERAL CLAY ON WAY TO U.S.

General Lucius Clay, the United States Military Governor in Germany, left Frankfurt last night for Washington to report on the Berlin crisis. He is accompanied by his political adviser, Mr Robert Murphy. General Clay expects to be back In Berlin on Sunday. , Yesterday afternoon General Clay and his British and French colleagues, General Sir Brian Robertson and General Koenig, discussed with the German Premiers in their zones the establishment of a West German State. Reuter’s Johannesburg correspondent quotes South Africa’s Prime Minister (Dr. D. F. Malan) as saying last night: “If war breaks out South Africa will side with the anti-Com-munist countries.” He added that what South Africa could do to help overseas would depend on her own security being assured. The Washington correspondent of the “New York Times” says that ac-

cording to authoritative reports reaching the United States Government, Russia is increasing pressure not only against the Western allies in Berlin. It is also urging its Communist associates in Central and Easter,. Europe to purge all but the most dependable officials. In the case of Czechoslovakia the reports predict that the Communist President (Mr Gottwald), Foreign Minister (Mr Kiementis), and the Minister of the Interior (Mr Nosek) will soon be replaced or stripped of much of their power. Similar reports, the correspondent adds, are coming in about Hungary, Jugoslavia, and Poland. They all speak of Communist pressure to solidify the parties’ ranks. According to the correspondent these reports are having a moderating , effect on United States policy, because ' it is seen that there are forces at work in Soviet Europe that in the long run can have an influence for good.

RUSSIAN FOOD FOR BERLIN

In London yesterday the threePower standing committee on Germany—Sir William Strang, Mr Lewis Douglas, and Mr Massigli—discussed as a. matter of first importance the Soviet move to send 100,000 tons of bread grain and other foodstuffs to feed the whole of the population of Berlin.

An official British statement in Berlin described the Soviet decision as pure propaganda. It added that the British and Americans would continue to supply food to the Western sectors. General Clay commented: “The proof lies in performance, not in promises.” Reuter says that the food offered by Russia is equivalent to about 3000 Dakota loads, roughly three times as much as had been taken to Berlin in the first 23 days of the air lift. “British and American aeroplanes flew 20,000,000 American cigarettes into Berlin from Hamburg yesterday to nullify Russian attempts to obtain Western marks,” says the Berlin correspondent of the "Daily Telegraph.” “Since the Western mark was introduced into Berlin the Russians have flooded the city with export cigarettes, selling them exclusively for the new Western currency.

‘lt is believed the Russians have two motives, namely, to intensify the scarcity of Western marks in Berlin and to gather a store of them to finance Communist activities in the Western zones." Reuter’s Berlin correspondent says that a Soviet spokesman has advised Berlin city authorities and employees to ignore an American order banning the Communist-dominated German trades union movement in the American sector of Berlin. The spokesman said that the movement would continue to have the Soviet Military Administration s full support. It is officially stated in Berlin that the British, French, and American members of the Inter-Allied Secretariat in Berlin have abandoned all hope of receiving any communication from their Russian associates. A French spokesman said that the Russians had not summoned a meeting of any kind since they assumed the. cnairmanship of the 'four-Power bodies in Berlin, on July I Reuter's correspondent in Berlin says that the Hamburg radio has announced that about 10.000 tons of newsprint, worth £375,000. will be imported into Western Germany.

U.S. AIR STRENGTH IN EUROPE

Reuter’s correspondent in Washington says that the United States will by August have more than doubled the armed air strength which It had in Europe when the Berlin crisis appeared four weeks ago. According to figures made available by a United States Air Force spokesman, the present strength comprises 75 fighter aeroplanes, 48 twin-engined transports permanently assigned to Germany, 30 Superfortresses, and 54 four-eneined transports temporarily assigned and at present employed in air deliveries to Berlin, 75 jet fighters due to arrive in Germany early in August, and 60 Superfortresses and 16 jet fighters temporarily assigned to England. The 60 Superfortresses temporarily based in Britain are to carry out bombing practice over Heligoland, according to present plans.

- w* ll , carr y out ind/vidual flights lasting from one to three hours, beginning on Thursday,” said a senior Roval Air Force officer to the “Daily Telegraph’’ last night. y The American columnist, Walter Lippmann, said yesterday in his widely syndicated column, that unless measures were taken to avoid accidents and deaths tn the Berlin air corridors, the eonflict between Russia and the united States would become altogether unmanageable and irreparable. If there is to be another world war let it not be beeun lightly, for it wili not be concluded easily,” he said “Let it not be begun on the advice of exasperated meh in Berlin, nor dex£de^ on the frivolous speculation that the Russians will not fight if we act violently." Above all, the United States should not resort to war before exhausting the possibilities of negotiation. Those possibilities had not been exhausted.