SPECULATION ON EFFECT OF SECRET TALKS AT KREMLIN

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22730, 31 August 1948, Page 5

SPECULATION ON EFFECT OF SECRET TALKS AT KREMLIN

(N.Z.P.A.—Re'uter—Cor yrlght.) (11.30 a.m.) LONDON, Au* 30. The three Western envoys in Moscow met M. Molotov and M. Vyshinsky at the Kremlin tonight. The meeting lasted two hours and 10 minutes. After it the envoys appeared to be in a good humour.

General Bedell-Smith said that no communique would be issued yet. lie expected further meetings.

The meeting, which was the shortest yet in the month-old hush-hush negotiations, is generally accepted in Mossow as mainly to reach an agreement on the terms of the communique to be issued.

The envoys drove to their respective embassies but Mr. Frank Roberts later joined General Bedell-Smith at the American Embassy. The Associated Press correspondent in Moscow says that obviously the French Government crisis is having some effect on the talks. M. Chataigneau, who previously always joined the other Ambassadors after the meetings at the Kremlin, did not go to the American Embassy today. Military Governors to Meet

Reuter’s correspondent in Frankfurt quotes American sources as saying that Allied Military Governors will meet in Berlin tomorrow as a result of the Kremlin talks.

General L. Clay refused to confirm this and the sources do not make it clear whether the meeting will be fourPcwer or three-Power attended by the Western representatives only. General Koenig arrived in Berlin unexpectedly last night, giving rise to the belief that the four military governors may soon meet for currency and other talks, says the British United Press correspondent in Berlin. General Koenig rarely comes to Berlin unless for important conferences. General Clay and General Robertson flew to Frankfurt today for conferences, but they are expected to return to Berlin tomorrow.

The German Premiers of the AngloAmerican zones asked General Clay and General Sir Brian Robertson at a meeting today whether a favourable outcome of the Moscow talks could lead to an Allied request to postpone the West German Constituent Assembly meeting at Bonn on September 1. It is understood that the generals replied they did not see how the outcome of the Kremlin talks could lead to such a request. The German Premiers had been given responsibility for calling the Assembly and the matter was in their hands.

Prospect of Agreeement Uncertain The prospects of any genuine agreemetn between the Western Powers and the Soviet Government on the Berlin blockade is still extremely uncertain. The situation, after 30 days’ negotiations. still is not far from deadlock, says the Daily Telegraphs diplomatic correspondent. Reports that the delay in announcing the results is due to failure to agree on the wording of the communique are inaccurate. The four Powers have scarcely discussed a communique. The correspondent added that the real hold-up lies in the drafting of four-Power instructions to the military • governors in Germany about the proposed new talks on Berlin currency. It seems clear that the Western Powers are viewing the Russian proposals with suspicion. That this should be the situation after such long discussions raises a doubt whether anything at all has been accomplished at Moscow.