MAKING PEACE

Evening Post, Volume CXL, Issue 152, 26 December 1945, Page 5

MAKING PEACE

Procedure Planned At Moscow SATELLITE LANDS

(By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright.) Rec. 9 a.m. LONDON, December 25. The Foreign Ministers' Conference has reached agreement on the procedure for the preparation of peace terms for Italy, Rumania, Bulgaria, Hungary, and Finland, and has decided to invite China and France to agree to them.

It has been decided, first, that the Foreign Ministers of Britain, America, Russia, and France shall work out peace terms for Italy; secondly, the Foreign Ministers of Britain, America, and Russia shall work out the peace terms for Rumania, Bulgaria, and Hungary.

Thirdly, the Foreign Ministers of Britain and Russia shall work out the peace terms for Finland.

Tlie interim report on the agreement on treaty-making outlines the followng procedure, says Renter's Moscow correspondent.:—

First, deputies of the Foreign Minsters are immediately resuming" work in London on the basis of agreement reached on the questions discussed at the first session of the Council of Foreign Ministers in London in September. Secondly, the Big Five, "together with all members of the United Nations which actively waged war with substantial military forces against the European enemy States," will consider the treaties at the conference.

Thirdly, the Big Three and France will draw up the final texts of the respective treaties. Fourthly, the treaties will be signed as stated below. Fifthly, the texts of the treaties -will be submitted, to the other United Nations. Sixthly,- the treaties will come into force immediately after being ratified by the Big Three and France; in the case of the treaty with Italy. The treaties are subject to ratification by the enemy. States in question.

The statement from the conference on the subject of peace treaties with satellites of the Axis said that the Council of Foreign Ministers would call a conference not later than May 1, 1946, for the discussion of peace terms with Italy, Rumania, Bulgaria, Hungary, and Finland.

The conference will consist of the j Council of Foreign Ministers (Britain, j America, Russia, China, and France), also all the other United Nations who actively participated in the war against the enemy, namely, New Zealand, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Czechoslovakia, Ethiopia, the Ukrainian and White Russian Republics, Yugoslavia,! Poland, Norway, Greece, Holland, and Bi*32il ' The report concluded that the final text of the peace treaties drawn up after the conference will be signed by representatives of the States represented at the conference which had bene at war with th eenemy State in question. The Foreign Ministers indicated that they would shortly announce decisions in other matters of world-wide interest, says the Moscow correspondent of the Associated Press. Meanwhile, the interim report says the conversations are proceeding in a friendly spirit. The Foreign Ministers reached the compromise agreement on the procedures for negotiation of peace treaties, first because Britain and America yielded to Russia's insistence that the Big Three only should negotiate with Germany's European allies, with France joining In in the case of Italy; and, secondly, because Russia partially yielded to the' British and American view by agreeing that all the Big Five should invite other Allies to the conference for the discussion of peace terms. "• The correspondent adds that this is regarded as a fair compromise between the position taken by the opposing sides at the London meeting of the Big Three in September and October. FRENCH RADIO ATTACK. An American correspondent, broad- j i casting from Moscow, said that there had been no news yet that the French Government had given its views about the proposals for framing the treaties, but he understood that the Chinese Government was willing to fall in- with the plan. A French news commentator, in his daily broadcast from Paris radio, strongly criticised the proposals. He said that France would willingly give up her claim to a share in the peace treaty with Finland, but, it was quite a different matter with regard to Hungary, Rumania, and Bulgaria. It was both humiliating and unfair to leave out France, and a great blow to her prestige. j Moscow correspondents say that the

Big Three talks are now in their closing stages, and the final communique is already being drafted. One dispatch, says it can be expected tomorrow night. Today's Moscow give a most enthusiastic welcome to last night's announcement. Portraits of Mr. Bevin and Mr. Byrnes are on the front pages. "Isvestia" emphasises the cordial atmosphere at Stalin's dinner last night, and it adds: "It shows a remarkable comradeship between the Russians and their great democratic allies." OTHER MAJOR ISSUES. Other major issues expected to be discussed in Moscow are Russia's share in the control of Japan and the events in northern Persia. Some reference to these is expected in the next communique. Reuters Moscow correspondent says that the conference is nearing the end. Good news is expected. Well informed circles state that positive considerations are uppermost in. the discussions between the Big Three Foreign Ministers and negative aspects are receding into the background, says the Exchange Telegraph's Moscow correspondent. Unofficial comments on, the conference were that "a considerable degree of understanding was reached on a number of problems," and more guardedly "discussions have made progress to a positive stage." The first British comment was laconic and unrevealing. It merely said "The conversations are frank and friendly." ' The three Foreign Ministers, after Sunday's talk, attended an official luncheon given by the U.S. Ambassador, Mr. Harriman. During the afternoon Generalissimo Stalin received Mr. Byrnes with Mr. Molotov. Mr. Hamman was also present. Mr. Bevin and Sir Archibald Clark Kerr met Stalin at his office at the Kremlin on Christmas Eve and had a discussion which a British spokesman described as "friendly and helpful. Mr Bevin also visited Lenin s Tomb. Stalin later banqueted with Messrs. Bevin, Byrnes, Molotov, and leading members of the British and American delegations. Many- toasts were drunK and a cordial: atmosphere prevailed. . There was a business-as-usual Christmas Day. Mr. Bevin and Mr. Byrnes were early at their desks after the previous night's announcement about the agreement on working out the peace treaties with Hitler's former satellites, and ready for another meeting with Mr. Molotov. Mr. Bevin also saw the French Ambassador.