DIVIDED EUROPE

Evening Post, Volume CXL, Issue 129, 28 November 1945, Page 7

DIVIDED EUROPE

ARTIFICIAL BARRIERS

APPEAL TO RUSSIA

(By Telegraph—Press Association— Oopyrlsht.i Rec. 10 a.m. LONDON, Nov. 27. Viscount Cranborne, opening a debate en foreign affairs in the House of Lords, said the dividing line between those parts of Europe in the sphere of Western civilisation and those parts in the sphere of Russia had become like a dividing line between two civilisation;;. Contacts between those two spheres were almost daily fewer. "On such a basis, how can the world succeed? What is needed now above all is the breakdown of these artificial barriers which arc dividing us up, and the recreation of intellectual cultural unity in Europe, for Europe is the main, if not the only, seat of the trouble."

"Let the Russian Government throw open the frontiers," he urged, "and let journalists and trained observers go through. Let us also have as many meetings as possible between Russian leaders and the leaders of 'Western Europe." Lord Cranborne spoke as a" Conservative, and said: "There can be no one of any party who does not desire good relations between Britain and Russia."

Viscount Addison replied for the Government and said: "We all long to be on close terms of frankness and mutual trust with our great ally, Russia. It is almost impossible to exaggerate the strength of our feeling. I can only say (frat the British Government Is determined to do everything it can to provide for frank discussion between us and for the removal of every ground of mistrust."

As far as the problem of governing Germany is concerned, relations between the four allies have improved. A correspondent in Berlin says this is the opinion of a senior British staff officer of the Control Commission. There are some difficulties; for example, France objects to the setting up of any central German administrative departments, but other useful decisions have been made. He says a tribute should be paid to the co-opera-tive spirit shown by the Russians. One of the most important decisions concerns the advanced delivery of reparations from Germany. Negotiations hrH'c gone well, aud the Russians are well satisfied with the result-