RUMOUR REPORT-BY MOSCOW PAPER

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 96, 19 January 1944, Page 5

RUMOUR REPORT-BY MOSCOW PAPER

Britons And Ribbentrop LONDON, January 17. A report alleging discussions between leading Britons and von Ribbentrop, the Nazi Foreign Minister, on the terms for a separate peace with Germany is published by “Pravda,” says the British United Press Moscow correspondent. The' “Pravda” report, which conies from, its own correspondent in Cairo, states : “According to information from reliable Yugoslav and Greek circles, two leading English personalities recently conferred secretly with von Ribbentrop in a coastal city in the Pyrenees. “The object of the meeting was to elucidate the terms for a separate peace with Germany. It- is believed that the meeting was not without results.”' The message is dated January 12, but it was not published till today, indicating either a delay in transmission or that careful consideration was given to the desirability of publishing it. “Pravda” is probably one of the world’s least sensational newspapers and one of the most serious and responsible in Russia. Its publication of such a story is exceptional. The correspondent adds that the report has caused something of a sensation and also bewilderment in diplomatic circles in Moscow. Unless the rumour is immediately and convincingly denied, it is not calculated to increase the confidence of the Soviet citizen in Britain. British Officials Puzzled. The National Broadcasting Corporation’s Moscow correspondent, after quoting the Cairo report, says: “This story is unofficial. It is important to note that it comes from a special correspondent of ‘Pravda,” and though it is printed in the central organ of the Communist Party, ‘Pravda’ carries it on a back page with the headline, ‘Rumours from Cairo.’ “There is no official Soviet comment. British officials say they cannot understand either the report or its'publication. They do not believe it.” ' Reuter’s Moscow correspondent- also cabled the story. Reuter comments: “The report is not confirmed by any other source. Himmler, a week ago, was reported to have demanded the recall of von Papen on. the ground that he had exchanged views with enemy Powers through intermediaries. “A German spokesman immediately denied al Ithe rumours of alleged peace feelers by von Papen as being fairy tales.” '

STORY COMPLETELY DENIED

Foreign Office Statement (Received January 18, 8.10 p.m.) LONDON, January 17. The Foreign Office has issued a complete denial of the story published in “Pravda” of the secret meeting between Ribbentrop and leading English figures. The British Embassy at Washington also denied the report, which was described as “completely false and without basis.” The “Daily Telegraph” .says that if the “Pravda” story really started in Cairo it undoubtedly originated from enemy agents. That they should even have troubled to start such an impossible story merely indicates the difficulties Dr. Goebbels is experiencing in his campaign to disunite the Allies. Washington Comment. (Received January 18, 10.15 p.m.) NEW YORK, January 18. The “Herald-Tribune’s” Washington correspondent says that the State Department is treating the “Pravda” report with more than usual reserve pending the arrival of information on whether it is taken seriously 'by Marshal Stalin or was ■published with his direct authorization. One high official regarded the move as part of the Russian war of nerves against Germany, and expressed the. opinion that the .Russians were trying to convince the German people that their leaders were desperate for peace. Commenting on the report, the “Her-ald-Tribune” in an editorial says: “Moscow’s clumsy psychological manoeuvre follows the Russians’ rough rejection qf the Polish offer to open negotiations through Britain and America.” It states that since the Polish offer is believed to have been made on the advice of the British Government the inference is clear that Moscow, with none too clear a cons.cience over its attitude toward Poland, is trying to cover its position by finding a stick with which to beat the British.

COMMONS DENIAL POSSIBLE

(Received January .18, 11.30 p.m.) LONDON, January 18. . The “Daily Mail’s” diplomatic correspondent says because of the Wide circulation later given “Pravda's” report by Moscow radio, the British Government may consider it necessary to reassert in the House of Commons its determination to abide by agreements and never make a separate peace. The story, in various forms, has been going the rounds for over a month, but was ignored as too fantastic. It was obviously intended to make mischief between the Allies, states the "Daily Express’s” political correspondent. One suggestion is that “Pravda” published the story to bring it into the open, so that it could be forcibly killed.