RUSSIA BLAMES U.S.

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22314, 26 April 1947, Page 5

RUSSIA BLAMES U.S.

LACK OF AGREEMENT ON AUSTRIA

SOVIET’S REPARATIONS CLAIMS

WESTERN ENVOYS’ HOPES OF FUTURE PACT (By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright.) (10 a.m.) MOSCOW. April 25. M. Molotov, in a statement broadcast by the Moscow radio, ' blamed the United States for the failure of the Council of Foreign Ministers to reach an agreement on the articles of the Austrian treaty. Dealing with the German assets, he said that Russia had tried hard but the United States had proposed interpretations of the Potsdam decisions which would deprive Russia of miich of her reparations from German property. Russia did not claim reparations from Austrian property or Austria, but insisted that all German property, including that transferred to the Germans after the anschluss by Quislings, must be used.

Safeguard for Oil Interests M. Molotov said he believed that the United States’ proposals were intended to safeguard the interests of British and American oil companies in Austria who did not protest when their property at one time was transferred to the Germans. "I imagine that in the days ahead we shall see that much more was done at the Foreign Ministers’ conference than we realised at the time,” said Mr. Marshall before .leaving this morning by plane for the United States. At a press conference earlier, Mr. Marshall was reported by the Moscow radio to have said he thought there was a fair chance of reaching agreements with Russia within a reasonable time, however depressing the present delays appeared. Mr. J. F. Dulles, Republican adviser to Mr. Marshall, said the United States had hammered out specific policies which, in the long run, should accomplish more than agreements. He asserted that an important by-product of the conference was the increased unity among Britain, France and the United States. Hour Power Unity Strengthened Mr. Ernest Bevin told press representatives before his departure for England that he felt the conference had strengthened four-Power unity. “It has taken a considerable time, but I think the exchange of opinions was most useful to clear the way for a more detailed study,” he said.