SANDYS TO GO TO RUSSIA

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28530, 8 March 1958, Page 13

SANDYS TO GO TO RUSSIA

Soviet Invitation

Accepted

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 8 p.m.) LONDON, March 7. u The British Defence Minister, Mr - Duncan Sandys, has accepted “in principle” T a personal invitation from the Soviet Government to visit Moscow, a Defence Ministry * spokesman said early today. Commenting on this today, the diplomatic n correspondent of “The Times” said that “unofficial i reports that Mr Sandys was to visit Moscow in May » to discuss disarmament, both nuclear and conven- B tional, and for a possible negotiation on the j establishment of missile bases in Britain, are ... at o least premature: there are no plans for a visit as early as May.” ••

The “Daily Telegraph” political correspondent reports: “Official sources stress that no definite arrangements have so far been made. The details are still to be discussed, probably through the Russian 3 Ambassador, Mr Malik. «

“The invitation was received fairly recently and it is all very much in the air at the moment,” it was n stated. “No other Minister will accompany Mr Sandys, 1 but he may take a small personal staff.”

“The acceptance of the invitation in principle must obviously have Mr Macmillan’s approval,” the correspondent said. “But there is no support in Government circles for the suggestion that it represents a divergence from the United States, or an indication that Britain is contemplating bipartisan summit talks with Russia. “The intention behind the invitation, it is thought, is to make a gesture of confidence towards Britain, on a par with the message to President Eisenhower, saying that the Russian leaders would be willing to go to the United States, if necessary, for a summit conference.”

“One thing which the invitation proves is that Mr Sandys did not offend or exacerbate Russian susceptibilities by his blunt statement in the Defence White Paper last month,” said the “Daily Telegraph.”

The “Daily Herald*' political correspondent, Hugh Pilcher, wrote that the coming visit by Mr Sandys was “a direct pointer to the probability that* Britain, guided by Mr Macmillan, is likely to ‘go it alone’ in summit talks in spite of objections announced by the United States Secretary of State, Mr Dulles.” The “Daily Herald” said Mr Sandys would discuss disarmament, the long-term future of Germany and a “renewed, possibility of bargaining over the establishment of rocket sites in this country.” “One reason why no official announcement has yet been made is that the Americans are at present shocked by tiie idea of any discussions with 'Russia outside the rigid limits which they have laid down for summit talks.” WANGANELLA’S SAILING Delay Caused By “Conspiracy” (Rec. 8 p.m.) SYDNEY, March 7. A “conspiracy,” amounting to an illegal strike among stewards on the Wanganella, had delayed the ship’s sailing time by < three days last week, Mr Justice Foster said in the Arbitration Conciliation Commission today. The 68 stewards, who had resigned from the ship 24 hours before it was due to sail, had put to terrible inconvenience and embarrassment the 350 passengers waiting to travel to New Zealand, the Judge said. , “It is hard to believe that Australian men would put 350 people to embarrassment and humiliation because somebody called someone a blankety blank,” he said. Mr Justice Foster continued: “Many of these people, who had counted on a four-day trip, instead of the seven days it took them, must have been broke when they arrived in New Zea- > land.

“In my six years in this tribunal, this is the worst case I have ever heard.” Counsel for Federated Marine Stewards and Pantrymen’s Association, said the stewards had resigned because of a dispute with the chief ’electrical engineer.

The engineer had allegedly

made disparaging remarks about & cooks and stewards on the liner.. The dispute had been settled--between.the parties on board ships on Tuesday last week, the Judfle* said. On Wednesday, the disagreement had flared up again and the stewards had resigned. Mr Justice Foster said he had sent a telegram to the Stewards’ 1 * union and to the owners of theWanganella, Huddart Parker and* Company, ordering the to sail and saying he would settler the dispute forthwith. The men had refused to go« back and the Wanganella ha 4. sailed with a new crew of, stewards on Monday.

The hearing is unfinished,