IN COMPLETE SECRECY

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIII, Issue 137, 12 June 1942, Page 3

IN COMPLETE SECRECY

MOVES IN MAKING OF TREATY

(Bj Teiet!iaplv—Press' &&ociaiiou-—Cowrliitn. i (Rec. noon.) LONDON, June ll.«

M. Molotov's visit to England and America was known only to the very best-informed people, and his actual movements were known only in the very highest circles. Mr. Eden, in July last year, returned to London from Moscow and immediately began the preparation of the treaty. Mr. Eden,' for whom the treaty is an outstanding personal triumph, was constantly in conversation with the leaders of the smaller Allied States whose future is so closely bound up with the alliance. He and M. Maisky worked for four months until it was possible to send the complete draft of the agreement to Moscow, with a renewal of the invitation which Mr. Eden had given M. Molotov to come to London. The weather was adverse, and it was some time before M. Molotov was able to complete the hazardous journey. Russia asked for complete secrecy.

Almost immediately after M. Molotov's arrival everyone closely concerned moved to Chequers—Mr. Churchill, Mr. Eden, Sir Alexander Cadogan and some of his assistants, M. Molotov, and M. Maisky and his experts. British and Russian Service Chiefs were called in for consultation when questions relating to the conduct of the war were under discussion.

The King gave an audience to M. Molotov before he went to America.