MAJOR ISSUES

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVI, Issue 84, 6 October 1943, Page 5

MAJOR ISSUES

THREE-POWER TALKS

WORLD FUTURE AT STAKE

Rec. 11 a.m. RUGBY, October 5: There seems little doubt now that the Three-Power Foreign Ministers' conference will be held in Moscow in the latter part of October. It is sincerely hoped that Mr. Oordell Hull, the United States Secretary of State, will find it possible to undertake the journey to the Soviet capital, notwithstanding his age and somewhat frail physique. The advantages of holding the conference in Moscow, rather than in London or elsewhere, are certainly substantial. The "Yorkshire Post" observes: "Held anywhere but in Moscow, the conference would almost certainly be subject to crippling delays. Russian delegates would find it necessary to refer almost every issue to Stalin, who, in the midst of his pressing military preoccupation, likes to keep the threads of Russian! policy very closely in his own hands." In these circumstances, the decision by Mr. Hull to disregard medical advice in order to go to Moscow per-1 sonally is regarded as significant of the American attitude to Europe at what is evidently a critical juncture. The hope is -expressed that Mr. Hull will toe able to confer in London on his way through, or at least on his return from Russia. \ WORK ALREADY DONE. Much preparatory ■work has been done on the agenda, beginning; with Mr. Maisky's visit to London before finally quitting his post.! Mr. Churchill has said that the whole: ground would be surveyed. This is taken as inlying an investigation of Allied policy in every friendly coun-; try awaiting liberation and of every! enemy country to be occupied. It also presumably will involve consideration of the basis for lasting security. \ In the first place what one commen- ; tator calls "political minefields" need to be cleared from the paths of the Soviet advance. Perhaps the most' thorny of these is referred to by the "Yorkshire Post." "In the Polish territory active warfare has been: going on for some time between two ; sets of partisans, one working under ■ the Soviet and the others under the: orders of the Polish military authority in exile," it says. "If this unhappy conflict continues the condition of suspended diplomatic relationships which: already exists between the Russian : and Polish Governments is all too likely to move from bad to worse." There are, of course, the makings of a similar dangerous and . tragic situation in Yugoslavia with which the Allied Middle East Command is ever more closely concerned. At least of equal importance is the co-ordination of ."the United Nations policy towards defeated Italy and towards the undefeated German nation which they hope before long to reduce to complete surrender. MOST IMPORTANT MEETING. One well-informed observer points out that the coming conference between the three great Powers on whom will rest the principal responsibility for making and maintaining peace will be more important than any held since the last war, and goes on to underline the danger, well understood in Britain, of the possibility of the division of Europe into zones of influence between the great Powers. An illustration of the problems involved was given when . the Czechoslovak Government in London, a few days ago, reiterated its desire to conclude an alliance with the Soviet as a buttress of European security against Germany. Discussions on this subject have been proceeding between the British, Soviet, and Czecno-Slovak

Governments, as the British Government is anxious to avoid the development of - anything like unregulated competition in alliances among the smaller Powers.

It is strongly held that only with a full understanding among greater Powers can the dependent problems be expected to fit into their, place without confusion. —8.0. W.