OPTIMISM ABATES

Evening Star, Issue 25461, 17 April 1945, Page 6

OPTIMISM ABATES

BRITAIN AWAITS V-DAY

GREAT INTEREST IN MR CHURCHILL'S FORTHCOMING SPEECH

(N.Z.P.A. Special Correspondent.)

(Rec. 10.10 a.m.) LONDON, April 16. " The Germans," said Field-Marshal Montgomery last week. " have, beenwell and truly defeated. None the less, you cannot really say when this husiness is going to end." The end to "this business.'' and the declaration of what Mr Churchill called V-Day are the chief items of news that everybody here is now waiting for patiently. The high tide of optimism which existed during the week-end and gave rise to speculation that the V declaration might be made any day has abated somewhat with the latest reports of German resistance.' But it is known that news of first-class importance has been discussed in Downing Street, and it is suggested that the actual situation is very much better than the news available to the public sugqests.

The prevailing atmosphere has heightened interest in the speech which Mr Churchill is to make to the House of Commons on April 19. It is expected to he very long. In addition to. dealing with current, events and Russo-Polish relations, it is also foreeast that he will refer to the complex problems facing Europe on the defeat of Germany. Mr Churchill will also speak in the House of Commons. tomorrow, paying tribute to President Roosevelt. A quite spontaneous movement among members of Parliament has led to an understanding that he alone shall speak for the Commons, and that other party leaders will voluntarily forgo their right to speak.

The sudden death of President Roosevelt cast the greatest shadow and sense of personal loss and sorrow on the nation as a whole since the death of King George V - . President Roosevelt was liked, admired, and respected, by the average man and woman of this country as-a genuine friend and an able administrator, and he held a place in their minds which was filled by no other foreign statesman,, not even Stalin. There has been general interest in President Truman. Accounts of his career and background are read with interest; and his first steps on taking office have been generally approved here, particularly the invitation to M. Molotov to attend San Francisco. * M. Molotov's acceptance is reported to have given the greatest satisfaction in London official circles, and the opinion is expressed that the whole prospects of the conference are transformed. POLISH PROBLEM. Mr Vernon Bartlett, M.P., says in the ' News Chronicle ' that his decision to attend, taken with M. Mikolajcyk's statement on the Yalta Conference, suggests '" that in the Soviet view a solution of the Russo-Polish deadlock is near at hand, for it is doubtful whether M. Molotov would go to San Francisco unless he expected the Polish delegation also to be present." ..■'-..■

No official news has yet been received in London of the 15 missing Poles headed by the Deputy Prime Minister, and according to some reports they have been joined "by M. Witos, who is a. prominent figure inthe Polish Peasant Party. Mr Bartlett believes the rumours correct that these Poles of the underground movement have been negotiating with the provisional administration in Warsaw under M. Molotov's auspices, but without the knowledge of his British and American colleagues on the committee. If they are true Mr Bartlett thinks the first British and American reaction will, be unfavourable, M. Molotov's colleagues having been treated with lack of frankness and courtesy. But he adds that the end may justify the means. SAN FRANCISCO. This background heightens interest in Mr Churchill's forthcoming speech. The San Francisco conference is to be debated in the Commons to-morrow, and will be of particular interest following on the recent Commonwealth discussions. It is believed that in those discussions the New_ Zealand delegation reiterated the views expressed on the occasion of the Australian/and New Zealand talks in Wellington last November. as to the safeguarding, of the " territorial integrity and political independence" of members of the new world organisation against change by force or threat of force. It is understood that the delegation urged_that members should be asked to give a clear pledge that they will pin in resisting any such threat. Prepared herself to make such pledges and to contribute everything that is required of her in honouring them .New Zealand is known. to be seeking greater powers for the Assembly of the new organisation in deciding when and where they should be acted upon. The Dominion's delegates , are understood to have emphasised that world security rests iu their opinion nbt only on the determination and resolution of Governments, but also on the interest and support of the peoples of the world. For this reason they urged that the responsibility for critical decisions as well as for subsequent action should be spread more widely over all member nations of the organisation., aud not limited to the extent proposed, to the Security Council. The New Zealand delegation wants to see every member of the organisation guaranteed a proportionate voice in the decisions. This desire to strengthen the powers of the Assembly or at the very least to ensure that the Security Council makes its decisions on the basis o'f clear-cut and generally accepted guiding principles, it is stated, does not spring from merely dogmatic insistence on the rights of smaller nations. It is completely in line with the support the Government has always given to the idea of collective security.