ATTLEE’S FLIGHT FOR TALKS WITH TRUMAN

Greymouth Evening Star, 2 December 1950, Page 5

ATTLEE’S FLIGHT FOR TALKS WITH TRUMAN

French Leaders: /Going

To London For

A Prior Conference

LONDON, December 1 (Rec 11 a.m.).—-The French Prime Minister, M. Rene Pleven, and the Foreign Minister, M. Robert Schuman will come to London tomorrow morning for talks with the Prime Minister, Mr Attlee, and the Foreign Secretary, Mr Ernest Bevm, before Mr Attlee leaves for Washington, the Foreign Office announced yMr Attlee will fly from London in a stratocruiser on Sunday night to confer with President Truman on international events. He is expected to snend three or four days at Washington and may then fly to Ottawa to meet the Canadian Prime Minister, M.r Louis St. Laurent. The Foreign Office announcement said: “The French Ambassador called on the Foreign ‘Secretary this morning following an exchange of views through diplomatic channels between Pans and London diniiw ; .h? last - ew days. It has been agreed that M. Pleven and M. Schuman should come to London to see their British colleagues before Mr Attlee leaves for Washington. The French Ministers are expected in London tomorrow morning.

So far, it is understood, there has been no suggestion that M. Pleven should himself go to Washington and that the size of the conference should be increased. Mr Eden’s Proposal Reference by the Foreign Office statement to exchanges in the past few days between London and Pans is taken here to indicate that Mr Attlee planned to travel to Washington immediately after the proposal was made by Mr Anthony Eden at the start.of the two-day foreign affairs debate on Wednesday, and that it was not directly inspired by Mr Truman’s press conference remarks about the use of the atom bomb. Mr Attlee today summoned his military Ministers and advisers to a conference in preparation for his Washington visit. Among those present were the Defence Minister, Mr Shinwell, the War Minister, Mr Strachey, and Field-Marshal Sir William Slim, Chief of the Imperial General Staff. Field-Marshal Slim is likely to accompany Mr Attlee to Washington. Mr Attlee will see the Minister for Commonwealth Relations, Mr Gor-don-Walker, later today, as the Commonwealth countries are being informed of the developments. Question Of Atomic Bomb

■ Reuters says that when Mr Attlee visits Washington he will at once make it clear that no decisive action should be taken on the use of the atom bomb in Korea without consultation with the other members of the-United Nations.

He is expected to press firmly for some kind of agreement clarifying the circumstances .in which any thought of using the bomb would srise. Mr Attlee will also indicate to Mr Truman the alarm paused in the House of Commons by the reports of the President's comments on the atom bomb. It is assumed that Mr Attlee and the President will also discuss the possibilities of constructive new talks with Russia. Mr Attlee made it clear m the House of Commons last night that he will only approach such talks if he is satisfied that the 'basis on which they will be held can produce some fruitful results. While in Washington Mr Attlee

will be in close touch with the Foreign Secretary, Mr Ernest Bevin, and the Foreign Officfe chiefs, but the major policy decision will lie in his own hands. He has already sent .the President a list of the subjects for discussion. Press Comment

The London evening newspapers hailed the announcement of the “Big Two” meeting, and some speculated that it might ultimately lead to a “Big Three” meeting with Mr Stalin. Saying that it was “desperately sad” that the conclusion of events should demand such a journey for Mr Attlee, the Conservative Evening News added: “But it is right that he should go. Five years after the end of World War 11, the nations have stumbled to near another cataclysm —a cataclysm which ho free nation wants and for which no free nation is mentally or morally braced.” The Evening News said the United Nations, under American leadership, was right to see the Korea aggression, not as a minor incident but as a challenge on a great and fundamental principle. The campaign had been waged in defence of that principle. Mr. Attlee carried . with him the good wishes of all political parties. Lord Beaverbrook’s Evening Standard, in an editorial, urged Mr Attlee to invite Mr Churchill to Wasnmgton.