RUMANIA SEEKS AID

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXV, Issue 227, 24 August 1945, Page 5

RUMANIA SEEKS AID

BROADER GOVERNMENT.

APPEAL TO BIG POWERS. (N.Z. Press Association.—Copyright.) Nit \V luxtK, Aug. 23. Tlie Secretary of State (Mr Byrnes.) at a X'ress conference disclosed that Britain, America and iiussiu were considering a Rumanian request for aid in the formation of a more representative Government.

The first official reaction in Washington was that the proposal envisaged an early election. Jt was tnougnt that Russia, following her policy regarding Greece, would decline the Rumanian request. Mr Byrnes announced that lie hail proposed that the .London meeting of the Couneif of foreign be deferred from September 1 to September 10 duo to tlie problems arisnig from the end of the Japanese war. Two of the live other nations ionning the Council had agreed so far. Mr Byrnes said he considered that the Italian armistice terms snouid be revised, although this was a matter for the Council of foreign Ministers. He added that it would not be lieiplul to Italy to have the terms published as originally written. When asked ii : the Council would meet at a place cut oil from the Press as at Potsdam, Mr Byrnes said tlie foreign Ministers would decide the policy. He pointed out that tlie Potsdam talks were held within the Russian occupation lines. Ho was sure that tlie conditions in London would be dilforent.

Mr Byrnes declared that lie argued at Potsdam for the freedom ol the Press which, lie believed, would contribute more than anything else to public understanding and acceptance of the Potsdam decisions. NEWS FROM POLAND.

He added that Britain, Russia and the United States have no doubt that under the changed conditions of peacetime tlie Allied Press will have full freedom to report events. He pointed out that this was supported by the Russian concession to a party of Allied correspondents who had been taken to Roland and allowed full freedom of movement and uncensored transmission of news.

President Truman told the assistant general manager of the Associated Press (Mr Paul Miller) that he desired all Press representatives, irrespective of their origin and nationality, to have equal access to Washington news. He hoped the same would be true throughout the world and that American newsmen would have equal access in all countries. The Moscow newspaper Izvestia, criticising the British and American decision to send observers to watch the elections in Greece, says the situation there is “characterised by the spreading of terror by reactionaries, monarchists and Fascists, which excludes the possibility of a free expression of the people’s will.” The paper adds that the most important task for tlie Allies is to provide conditions' for really democratic elections. When this is provided there will be no necessity for observers. . , . The paper declared that Russia had turned down the proposal to send observers to Greece because such a step was incompatible with Greek independence and sovereignty. No matter what form the observation takes it would lead to the establishment of control over internal policy, which should not be subjected to foreign intluenco. “It is a form of interference which cannot strengthen Democracy, hut is capable only of undermining Democracy,’’ the paper adds.