RELIEF OF EUROPE

Grey River Argus, 28 June 1947, Page 5

RELIEF OF EUROPE

CONFERENCE OPENING ON UNITED STATES OFFER VERY BIG SOVIET DELEGATION

(Received 7.45 p.m.). „ LONDON J™ 2L The Big - Three conference on the United. States one relief for all Europe opens to- day at Paris.

There is no agreed agenda for the Three Power meeting, says the TimesParis correspondent. The purpose of the conference is to set machinery of stocktaking in motion. It is hoped there may, eventually, be agreement on a more efficient distribution of main assets among European countries. Mi’ Bevin and M. Bidault would like to see special technical committees established to study European assets and its needs for lood, coal, and transport. British and French officials are not decided as to whether the U.N.O. Economic Commission is an ideal intermediaiy for forthcoming rehabilitation moves. The officials are inclined to think that compact special committees could work more efficiently and privately, and be subject to less political stress than any machinery established by the Commission, which has worked in public. Observers say that the greatest danger to the conference is that it may attempt too much, and may become involved in political discussions.

The Soviet delegation to the conference consists of 89 members. 1 his number would suggest that M. Molotov is not averse to a long stay. The Times diplomatic correspondent says: Mr Clayton (U.S.A.) at a - further meeting on Thursday w.th Messrs Attlee, Bevin, Dalton, and Sir S. Cripps, heard an appreciation of Europe’s economic problems as seen from London. LONDON, June 26. Mr Bevin will go to the Paris conference to-morrow with some advantage over M. Bidault and M Molotov, says Reuter’s diplomatic correspondent. He has had long discussions during the. week with the United States Undersecretary, Mr William Clayton, and as a result more fully understands Washington’s viewpoint. Mr Bevin has completed preparations for the Paris visit and will go with a strong staff of experts and a comprehensive background of ideas gained in talks with Mr Clayton, Mr Attlee, Sir Stafford Cripps and Dr. Dalton.

M. Molotov arrived in Paris today with a full staff of leading Russian economic and foreign affairs experts. The Russian party includes eighteen advisers, seventeen secretaries, fifty-six assistants, and a special correspondent for Pravda.

M. Molotov’s arrival in Paris was secret. Reporters were not at the airport when he arrived and have been turned away from the Russian Embassy with a statement that no announcements may be expected. Other European countries have expressed great interest in the talks and representatives may be invited to consult the Big Three.

the time’reading some extremely pioNazi articles which had been written before the war by men now very friendly to the Communists, and ..ikely to receive high posts. It y as typical of the extraordinary atmosphere . of this Parliament, which meets in a building copied from Westminster, that these quotations were met with delighted laughter on all sides.