PROGRAMME IN MOSCOW

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27425, 11 August 1954, Page 11

PROGRAMME IN MOSCOW

No Mention Of Talks With Malenkov

MOSCOW, August 9. The Soviet Foreign Ministry today released its programme for this week’s Moscow visit of Mr Attlee and other British Labour leaders, but no mention was made of any arrangements for them to see Mr Malenkov, the Prime Minister,

The Foreign Ministry told the British Embassy that a full programme had been arranged, for the group on Wednesday, but arrangements had not been completed for Thursday.

Mr Attlee and seven other British Socialists are due in Moscow tomorrow night on their way to Peking. A special aircraft of the Soviet airline, Aeroflot, will piek them up at Helsinki and fly them to the Moscow Airport. They will leave for China late on Thursday.

Mr Attlee will stay at the British Embassy as the personal guest of the Ambassador (Sir William Hayter). Others 'of the group, including Mr Aneurin Bevan, will go to the Soviet Hotel, a new marble luxury hotel on the outskirts of the city, usually reserved for distinguished visitors.

The group will be whisked away to a Soviet Government reception soon after their arrival.

On Wednesday the delegation will be received by Mr Mikhail Yasnov, Mayor of Moscow, and Mr Alexander Volkov, chairman of the Council of the Union, a House of the Soviet Parliament. They will visit a new agricultural exhibition, and lunch with its director, Mr Nikolai Tsitsin. In the evening they will dine at the British Embassy. Mr Molotov, the Foreign Minister, and other Russians, will be the Ambassador’s guests. The programme is so arranged that Mr Attlee and his party will be free for only two hours and a halt on Wednesday. Visits to the Kremlin and Moscow University are scheduled for Thursday.

In view of the programme any possible reception by Mr Malenkov is likely to take place on Thursday.