RUSSIAN TREATIES

Greymouth Evening Star, 24 October 1945, Page 5

RUSSIAN TREATIES

ANGLO-U.S.A. PROTESTS CONSULTATION DEMANDED LONDON, October 23. “The British protest against the Russian economic treaty with Hungary applies also to the similar Rus-sian-Rumanian agreement,” says the Press Association’s diplomatic correspondent. “Both agreements provide for the Russians having a half share in the industries of the countries concerned. The British Note to Moscow takes exception to the manner in which the agreements have been concluded without prior consultation with ,the Allied Governments.” From Washington it is reported that the United States Government has made it clear to Britain and Russia that all former Axis satellite States are considered by the United States to be the concern of the Big Three and that the Powers should consult each other on all future economic arrangements.

STALIN’S ILL-HEALTH. LONDON, October 23. “Rumours that Mr. Stalin is dying and that Russian marshals are fighting for the Kremlin throne have been spreading throughout the Soviet Army both in the Balkans and in eastern Germany,” says the Vienna correspondent of the “Daily Mail.” “They .have caused what is approaching a crisis in the Russian High Command .and large-scale desertions among the rank and file.” ■ The correspondent adds: “Russian ,troops in Rumania are reported to be (deserting at the rate of many thousands a month. It is known that bands of deserters are roaming the whole of eastern Europe. It is unsafe to drive a vehicle after dark.” ILLNESS DENIED (Rec. 11.50 a.ip.) LONDON, Oct. 23. Replying to the spate of rumours that Stalin was dead, dying or ill, the Soviet Embassy told the “Evening News” that Marshal Stalin was simply taking a rest. He is in excellent health. PERSIA AND KURDISTAN LONDON, October 22. “New contingents of Russian troops, including infantry, cavalry, tank, and air units, are reported to have arrived at Tabriz, capital of the Persian province of Azerbaijan,” says the Associated Press correspondent at Teheran.

“There are also reports of Red Army troop movements on the Turkish-Persian border. Travellers and Persian newspapers report a. continuance of disorders in Kurdistan, which is the Russian-occupied area of Northern Persia.” The correspondent says that the incidents are generally attributed to a local independence movement which the Russians are believed to be sponsoring. The Red Army, which has policed the area since 1941, recently refused to permit the entry of Persian police. MONGOLIA’S INDEPENDENCE (Recd. 10 a.m.) MOSCOW, October 23. Tass reports that in the Mongolian plebiscite, the final count showed that almost 19 per cent of the voters polled and voted 100 per cent for the independence of Outer Mongolia.