Bevin Has 90-Minute Talk With Stalin

Northern Advocate, 21 December 1945, Page 5

Bevin Has 90-Minute Talk With Stalin

(Rec. 1.1.30 a.m.) LONDON. Dec. 20 Stalin’s talk with the British Foreign Secretary (Mr Bevin) yesterday lasted 90 minutes and is described today as frank and friendly. The British Ambassador in Moscow (Sir Archibald Clark Kerr) and the Foreign Undersecretary (Sir Alexander Cadogan) were with Mr Bevin. Newspapers in Moscow are today giving prominence to the Soviet demands against Turkey which Mr Bevin, Mr Byrnes and their delegations studied this morning. Moscow papers print a letter by two leading Georgian scholars demanding “the return of territory seized by Turkey.” The letter said the Georgian people never relinquished this territory, which must be recovered. The area lies immediately south of the oil port of Batum at the Black Sea end of the Baku pipeline. , The demands are causing comment in diplomatic circles, members of which recall earlier statements from the Soviet and Armenia concerning Kars and other Armenian areas, now forming part of Turkey. The Kars area formed part of Russia untii after the First World War. when it was transferred to Turkey, STALIN RECEIVES VISITORS Marshal Stalin received the British Foreign Secretary (Mr Bevin) and the United States Secretary of State (Mr Byrnes) yesterday, says the Moscow radio.

The Soviet Foreign Minister' (M. Molotov), the British Ambassador in Moscow (Sir Archibald Clark Kerr), and the Foreign Under-Secretary (Sir Alexander Cadogan) were present during Mr Bevin's interview, and M. Molotov and the United’ States Ambassador (Mr Averell Harriman) were present during Mr Byrnes’ interview. The Associated Press. says the Foreign Ministers went into conference yesterday an hour later than usual. Mr Bevin is keeping the Dominion Ministers fully informed on the Moscow talks, says the “Daily Mail’s” correspondent, who adds that the Chinese and French Ambassadors are iii constant touch with Mr Bevin and Mr Byrnes.

RETICENCE CONTINUES Reticence is still being observed regarding the Foreign Ministers’ - talks, but the Moscow newspapers are giving prominence to news from the Far East, which may be a pointer to the matters under discussion, says “The Times” correspondent. ; A long Tass despatch describes mounting dissatisfaction of the Japanese Left wing parties with the: Japanese political elements seeking to shield the Emperor. It describes the Japanese financial and labour situation as chaotic.

“Pravda” deals bluntly with the presence of large American forces in China which seems inconsistent with respect for Chinese sovereign rights and the principle of non-intervention. This paper also criticises President Truman’s explanation of American policy in China, saying the task of disarming the Japanese does not require the presence of American tanks, aeroplanes and warships, nor was American intervention needed in an area of China where the local Chinese forces had proved themselves capable of dealing alone with the task of disarming the defeated enemy. ; “Pravda” draws the significant conclusion that the presence of a foreign army in North China justifies the Soviet Union in maintaining troops in Manchuria for a certain period, especially as Manchuria was so long in Japanese occupation and lies on the Soviet borders. .