SHARP CLASH

Greymouth Evening Star, 7 August 1946, Page 7

SHARP CLASH

Byrnes and Molotov at Paris Meeting I'. RUSSIAN TACTICS UNDER FIRE (Swa, Soon). LOKDON, August Mr. James Byrnes (United States) speaking’ in an electric atmosphere at a meeting of the rules committee of the Paris Conference, sharply replied to allegations made by Mr. Molotov, the Russian delegate, on the previous day. He said that Russia, since the Potsdam meeting, had sought to restrict the participants at the Peace Conference to the smallest possible number, and also that Mr. Molotov had attempted to have the Foreign Ministers’ Council dictate to the conference. Mr Byrnes, discussing consistency, went point by point over- the recent actions of Mr. Molotov. He said that on July 4 Mr Molotov had agreed to the sending out of the invitations to the Peace Conference,but on July 5 insisted that the; invitations should not go out before the Council of Foreign Ministers had drafted the procedure. Mr Molotov had lectured about consistency when m recently the British delegate had moved an amendment to the rules procedure, Mr. Byrnes said, and yet last week Mr. Molotov himself had suggested a change in the draft, rules, permitting Poland to sit on the committee dealing with Hungary. Again, soon after giving a lecture on eonsurteney the cifcmission.on the voting rules, Mr. Molotov lumself had ofteicd an amendment to those rules. Mr . Byrnes said: "Only Mr. Molotov could do that He would be utterly surprised if anyone should criticise him for it. In fact, no member of the Council of Foreign Ministers had thought of criticising him.”

Mr/ Byrnes went in detail through the minutes of meetings of the Council of Foreign Ministers, quoting them to show that he had repeatedly sisted that if the council submitted draft rules to the conference, the United States reserved the right to support fair and reasonable amendi*n c n t s • Mr Byrnes, after reading each passage, said: “Mr. Molotov heard that. Mr Byrnes, summing up, said, i am entirely willing to let public ° P “At various times when Mr. Molotov has not had his own way he has sought to impugn his colleagues, said Mr. Byrnes. “Mr. Molotov has presumed to lecture me about consistency. Such tactics do not he p him. Even the most patient people must finally resent them. Mr. Byrnes was replying to criticism made by Mr. Molotov yesteic ay, when Mr. Molotov claimed that Mr. Byrnes had supported Mr. Mackenzie King’s suggestion that the Foreign Ministers should meet concurrently with the conference, although Mr. Byrnes had earlier failed to support, a similar proposal from Mr. Molotov. Mr. Byrnes .said that Mr. Molotov knew that his complaint was not in accord with the facts.

The Press in Russia. Mr. Byrnes claimed that the tact was that Mr. Molotov had suggested privately on July 29 that the Foieign Ministers should meet the Rules Committee. Mr. Byrnes had answered that he thought a meeting would be unwise and that the committee should make its own decisions. “What Mr. Molotov was seeking to do was to have the Council of Foreign Ministers dictate to the conference who should head the various commissions,” he said. “We have a free press in the United States. Mi. Molotov can be sure that his attacks against me are published in America. I challenge him to see my statement published in Russia. “When Russia’s back was to the wall the United States came to her aid. We have only admiration and respect for the Russian people. We won’t let that be changed by any attacks from Mr. Molotov.” Poles Support Russia. Rejecting the British amendment, the Polish delegate said: “We strongly support the Russian amendment, which gives due weight to the conference’s decisions taken by a two-thirds majority and does not prevent a minority from being heard. There is an atmosphere of almost visible distrust which especially affects the countries of Eastern Europe. Let us speak with more confidence, more trust, and better understanding. Citing the Versailles Treaty and the League of Nations Covenant, the Polish delegate added that there wei e historical precedents for the twothirds majority. “Our decisions cannot and should not be taken as casual suggestions, which can easily be overlooked by the Council of Foreign Ministers,” he said. “That council, when a two-thirds majority recommendation is before it,, would be bound to give it most serious consideration.” MR. BEVIN RETURNING TO WORK LONDON, Aug. 5. The Foreign Secretary (Mr. Ernest Bevin) is spending the last two days of his convalescence in the country. He will attend a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, and leave for Paris at the week-end. Mr. A. V. Alexander will continue to lead the British delegation at the Paris conference until Mr. Bevin arrives. Mr. Attlee is not returning to the conference. ■ CHINESE COMMUNISTS AND PARIS DECISIONS (Rec. 10 a.m.) TIENTSIN, August 6. A Communist spokesman said that the Communists reserved the right to reject the Paris Conference decisions on China, because only the Kuomingtang waS represented. The spokesman added that the Communists sought representation, but were told that China had only one delegate. It was subsequently learned that five delegates, all members of the Kuomjpgtang, had arrived in Paris.