GLOOMY START EUROPEAN TALKS

Grey River Argus, 30 June 1947, Page 5

GLOOMY START EUROPEAN TALKS

ON U.S. PLAN TO HELP EUROPE

(Rec. 8.10). LONDON, June 28. The British, French and Russian Foreign Ministers met to-day, and, after a discussion, adjourned the meeting until Monday. Asked if he had anything to say about to-day’s meeting, Mr Ernest Bevin replied: "Less ever!” Press correspondents report that there is a gloomy British and French atmosphere. All three of the delegations have maintained a “sealed lips” policy. The newspaper, I’Aube, organ of Foreign Minister Bidault’s M.R.P. Party, declared that this secrecy has threatened the success of the conference.

A message from Berne says: The Swiss Government has announced that Switzerland must, if asked, oe ready to collaborate on an equal footing with other countries in the establishment of the Marshall plan. The Times Faris correspondent says: Before the conference between Mr Bevin, M. Molotov, and M. Bidault opened, more was learned about French plans and hopes. In general, they are close to those of the British. France desperately needs industrial and agricultural equipment of all kinds, and she looks to the United States for such supplies. But her leaders know that the best hope of receiving them rests upon the establishment of a broad European plan of the kind suggested by General Marshall. French officials, therefore, hope that the present conference will quickly set up machinery for studying, first of all, how much

Europe can supply of its own needs through an interchange of goods and services, and how much equipment will be needed from outside to put industry on a healthy basis. The French, like the British, suggest the establishment of a central directing committee, which would control four or five committees. These would seek to present Europe’s assets and needs in food, transport, coal, and electric power. The French hope that these organisations may be set up quickly, and that the present conference will not become lost in long discussions on the future of Germany, or on ether matters which the Foreign Ministers’ Council itself has not been able to resolve. MINISTERS’ STATEMENTS AT BANQUET (Rec. 7.30). PARIS, June 2'9. The three Foreign Ministers attended a banquet here. M. Molotov said: "Hopes for success of the conference on the economic reconstruction of Europe are justified. All three of us have the will to surmount obstacles. Let us remember the sacrifices of our countries during the war, sacrifices which ‘ demand that we achieve peace”. Mr Bevin said chat he was not really pessimistic about the future of the conference.

M. Bidault enumerated difficulties which are conference. He expressed the hope that the talks would have a positive outcome.