BRITISH ROLE IN NEW WAR

Press, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 26728, 12 May 1952, Page 7

BRITISH ROLE IN NEW WAR

Existence Of U.S. Report Denied

(N.Z. Press Association-Copyright)

(Rec. Span. LONDON, May 10. 1 he Adm.ralty to.day denied it had received a cony of a repo, t alleged by the Paris newspaper “Le Monde” to have been made by Admiral WilliamFechteler of the se axhsir -is

The Foreign Office has already disclaimed knowledge of such a document and Admiral Fechteler in j • I the statements attributed™ himby d '" lWl Le Monde to-day maintained the authenticity of its renort f hat had st . ated that war was inev itable before i 960, and said its report was based on a letter said to have been sent to Mr James Seldon, lay executive secretary of the American National Security Council. “Le Monde” said it was really convinced the report was authentic.

The editor-in-chief said to-day: “We nave very good reasons for saying so. We do not intend to divulge the names a2 e • people who let us see th .e Admiral's report because they, tpo. will have to issue denials for obvious reasons. “We can, however, say the report reached us through British sources. In any case, Admiral Fechteler summarises, or puts into different words, views which have been expressed partially at one time or another by most American military and political chiefs.” The newspaper “Aurore,” suggesting legal action against “Le Monde,” said: ‘The Fechteler report is a fake, fabricated in Paris. It is inspired, directly or indirectly, by Soviet propaganda, by Moscow.” Detailed Report Earlier reports said that “Le Monde," which is regarded as usually well-in-formed, published a “secret report” by the Chief of American Nava) Operations (Admiral Fechteler), proposing to make the Mediterranean the main base of any counter-attack to Soviet aggression, “because Britain would be rendered useless by any atomic attack.” “Le Monde” said that the effects of the report had been sensational in French Government and political circles. The British Admiralty also had a copy of the report, the newspaper commented. “This may well be the reason for the long-standing disagreement between Britain and America over the Mediterranean command,” it went on. “Le Monde” said that Admiral Fechteler's report said war was inevitable before 1960. He also believed Russia had a detailed plan for an atomic attack on Britain. He quoted intelligence reports as saying that the Soviet Air Force could occupy Danish, Dutch. Belgian, and French pirfields four days after opening hostilities. The European Army of 52 divisions would be able to hold out for only three days against 115 Russian divisions. Admiral Fechteler continued that whoever held Gibraltar, Suez and the Dardanelles would win. The report selected a Mediterranean base for these additional reasons: (1) In the Mediterranean robot aeroplanes and rockets could be used with the tactical air force to support combined operations. (2) Main operations could

be directed against Albania, Bulgaria, and Rumania- <3) Allied power should be built up as close as possible to the national territory of the potential aggressor—in Syria, Iraq, and Egypt. French Objection The French objection to the report, according to the newspaper, was its implied far-reaching interference in ana domination of Tunisia, Algiers, and Morocco. The British Foreign Office had no knowledge of a secret report by Admiral Fechteler, a spokesman said in London. In London the “Daily Mail” says: “The extraordinary report, said to have been made by Admiral Fephteler, that war is inevitable is causing consternation jn London, Washington. Paris and other European capitals. The storv is causing a big stir in London diplomatic quarters, where it is noted that the implications could cause friction between Britain and the United States.” A British Admiralty spokesman said to-pight: “We earn throw no light on this fantastic story.” The American Embassy was inundated with telephone queries, all of which got the same reply: “Just another Communist-inspired story.”