Doubts About Wisdom of Supreme War Council

Manawatu Times, Volume 68, Issue 24, 29 January 1943, Page 5

Doubts About Wisdom of Supreme War Council

How Stalin Received News From Casablanca (By Telegraph-Press Assn.—Copyright.) Received Thursday, 8.45 p.m. NEW YORK, Jan. 27. A joint Note from Mr. Churchill and President Roosevelt was handed to Mr. Stalin at the Kremlin by Admiral Standley (U.S. Ambassador) and Mr. H. L. Baggallay (Counsellor to the British Embassy) simultaneously with the release of the Casablanca communique, says the Associated Press’s Moscow correspondent. Admiral Standley said he could not discuss the contents, but a correspondent says he learned that the Note dealt with the British and American war plans in 1943. “Mr. Stalin looked like a man with a lot of responsibilities, but was overjoyed about the Red Army’s success at Stalingrad,’’ said Admiral Standlcy “He was smoking a pipe.’* “A peace pipe?’’ asked a correspondent. “No, by God, he was smoking a war pipe,’’ replied Admiral Standley. Asked whether progress was being made in the direction of appointing a Supreme Allied Command including Russia and China, Admiral Standley said: “I know nothing about that. I do not think it would work. It is difficult to conceive a general staff able to assimilate details and make decisions covering all the phases of the war throughout the world. There is a lot of misunderstanding about the possibilities of a joint staff. I think the existing arrangement comes as near as it can to this idea by assigning areas of responsibility. ’ ’ informed circles expect that a specific settlement of the North African political situation will be announced supplej menting the vague communique, says the New York Herald-Tribune’s Washington correspondent. “The settlement will end the discord, ensure military success in eliminating the Axis from North Africa and enable concentrated air attacks against Italy. Observers point out that the large R.A.F. raids on Berlin occurred 48 ,hours after the conference began on I January 14. Mr. Churchill and Presii dent Roosevelt doubtless ordered the 1 raids as part of the comprehensive war I plans then under discussion. The communique’s minor reference to China is not interpreted to mean that China or the Southwest Pacific i will play second fiddle, but it is appar- ; ent that the blows against Germany i will come first while a holding action is fought against Japan.