STALIN NOT KEPT WELL-INFORMED BY HIS ADVISERS

Evening Star, Issue 26091, 3 May 1947, Page 7

STALIN NOT KEPT WELL-INFORMED BY HIS ADVISERS

(N.Z.P.A. Special Correspondent.) : LONDON, May 2. A report in the European edition of the-New York ‘Herald-Tribune’ claims to give the burden of the discussion between Generalissimo Stalin’ and Mr Bevin in Moscow during the British coal crisis. Jt states that Stalin opened the discussion by suggesting to Mr Bevin that Britain should solve her coal difficulties by taking what she required from the Ruhr, ignoring the requirements of the rest of Europe. INADEQUATELY ADVISED. This led to a dis;ussion of the German problem as a wnole. Mr Bevin was surprised to find that Stalin had a very restricted briefing from his advisers. When Mr Bevin mentioned the four-power treaty to keep Germany disarmed, as first suggested by Mr James Byrnes, it was necessary for M, Molotov, who was also present, to explain to Stalin what treaty Mr Bevin meant, Stalin seemed unaware of env of the proposals for . the administrate of Germany other than those advanced by his own Government. v ANGLO-SOVIET TREATY. When the talk turned to a discussion of Anglo-Soviet relations, Stalin said Russia would soon have a surplus of wheat and timber which it could exchange with Britain. Mr Bevin then raised the suggested revision of the Anglo-Soviet Treaty and) bluntly asked Stalin what he ■ wanted'. Stalin replied -brifly, “An improvement.” In subsequent nego-

tiations, M. Vyshinsky suggested to Sir'Maurice Peterson that the treaty should contain certain clauses which would “ guarantee mutual loyalty.” He went on to interpret mutual loyalty in terms which suggested that the Soviet thought the British Press and any other agencies which might criticise Russia should be muzzled. Other clauses were also suggested which were plainly intended to prevent any alliance between Britain and' the United States. The correspondent says the talk revealed what had long been suspected, that Stalin is not kept fully informed by his subordinates, and' that the iprime objective of Soviet foreign policy is to prevent a working arrangement on foreign policy between Britain and the United States.