WESTERN TALKS ON BERLIN

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25607, 23 September 1948, Page 5

WESTERN TALKS ON BERLIN

France Said To .Oppose Approach To U.N.

(N.Z. Press Association-—Copyright) '

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action, with the British Foreign Secretary (Mr Bevin) apnearing to search for a middle course, but any is said, are merely those of emphasis.” rentes, it is

The Paris correspondent of “The Times” savs that few people see any hope.that further discussions with Moscow will produce results, and there is a widening expectation that the three Western Powers will refer the dispute to ed Nations. Any such move would be opposed by Russia and “Pravda has already declared that the dispute is outside competence of the United Nations.

The correspondent adds that one danger present in manv roads is that any reference t Q the United Nations might sugest that Western policy was not definite or resolved.

fhe Western Ministers held theirt second meeting on the Berlin crisis yesterday. The British, United States, and French Military Governors in Germany attended. The Paris correspondent of the Associated Press says that the meeting lasted for 90 minutes, but the Ministers’ advisers continued in session. He adds: “A French spokesman said that the ministers had made no decisions at the session. He added that there would be further meetings next week. The advisers, meanwhile, would continue to hold daily sessions. "British officials in Paris discounted rumours of differences between the United States on one hand and Britain and France on the other, on the main issue of deciding at what stage further negotiations with Moscow would become pointless. They admitted, however, that there were understandable differences in the emphasis of some of the tactical questions involved.” Reuter’s diplomatic correspondent lays that a special meeting of the Bri-

Cabinet has been called for to5 plri + M iL Bev i n will report on the fans talks and give an outline of the i speech he will make in the House of commons debate on foreign affairs to-day. It is expected that he will re- ■ view events and will not announce any ! new policy. ’ w* 1 ? the i r dis P ute with Russia the i V? s l ern Powers have right on their side, says “The Times” in a leading aritcle. The Russians have broken ' Ffe treaty, and the blockade of Berlin ■ itself is a wanton act of force But it IJ ». not , efficient to recite these and other facts to the House of Comirions e Y? n J o the United Nations Assembiy if the Western Powers have no alternative policy. “The point has now been reached at which a clear decision must be taken whether to continue negotiations still under pressure of the blockade or whether to adopt some entirely different approach. No graver decision has had to be made since the war ended, as Parliament will no doubt recognise soberly and frankly to-day.”