MOST IMPORTANT STEP

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXVI, Issue 25, 28 December 1945, Page 5

MOST IMPORTANT STEP

MR BEVIN'S OPINION MOSCOW MEETING CONCLUDES . LONDON, Dec. 27. Speaking to Press correspondents at the close of the Moscow, Conference of Foreign Ministers, the British Foreign Minister (Mr Bevin) said the conference must not be regarded as having settled world affairs for all time. "It was a most important step, and the decisions reached will carry us on until the next meeting," said Mr Bevin, who is leaving Moscow tomorrow for London.

A Press Association cable says that the United States Secretary of State (Mr Byrnes) ~when interviewed before leaving Moscow for "Washington, said: "The important things is that close relations have been established between the 'Big Three.' There will never come a time when there will not be problems affecting our three Governments, because new problems arise as the weeks go by. When close relations have been established, however, the possibility of agreeing is always there."

Mr Byrnes stated that agreement had been reached on the setting up of a committee to control atomic energy. Many problems confronting the world had been settled and a cordial spirit had been evident throughout the conference.

CONSTRUCTIVE CONFERENCE. A communique on the discussions is to bo issued simultaneously in London, Washington and Moscow at 3 a.m. tomorrow, Greenwich time. The final session lasted 12 hours and the Ministers cleared every detail. The United States Secretary of State (Mr Byrnes) has left on his return to Washington via Paris, though he will not stop in the French capital. Mr Byrnes, before leaving for the airport, declared that the \ conference had been very constructive, not only because of the many problems settled, but also of the,cordial' relations between the three countries represented. He added: "There is great hope-for settlement of other problems in the game friendly way. There was no agreement on any subject which will not be covered by a communique." He added that he explained this point "because some people are always anxious to know if there are secret agreements. When you read the atomic agreement, you will know that no phase other than that set forth was discussed."

Commenting on the conference, the Daily Telegraph says the object was not so, much to reach decisions as to prepare the way for next month's meeting of the United Nations Assembly. The United Nations Organisation could not function effectively unless the "Big Three" were in agreement. It would be foolish to expect complete agreement, hut unless the "Big Three" were keeping the same sort of world order there could be no world order at a/1.