War Talks With Stalin

Northern Advocate, 21 August 1948, Page 5

War Talks With Stalin

WASHINGTON, Fri.—At a dinner party attended by President Roosevelt, Mr Winston Churchill and M. Stalin at Teheran, when Mr Churchill asked what future territorial interests Russia had. M. Stalin replied: “There is no need to speak now about Russian desires, but when the time comes—we will speak.” This is reported in the secret papers of the late Mr Harry Hopkins, Mr" Roosevelt’s personal adviser. The papers, edited by Robert Sherwood. are being published in Collier's Magazine. They reveal that on the same occasion Mr Churchill said that Britain did not want any new temtory, but intended to hold on to what she had and to reclaim what had been taken from her.

M. Stalin then commented that Britain had fought well in the war and he personally favoured increases in the British Empire, particularly in the area round Gibraltar. ROOSEVELT’S REACTION

Summing up Mr Roosevelt's reaction to the first meeting with M. Stalin. Mr Hopkins says: “He now felt sure that M. Stalin was ‘getatable' in spite of his bludgeoning tactics and his attitude of cynicism toward such matters as the rights of small countries. “He felt sure, too. that when Russia could be convinced that her legitimate claims and requirements—such as the right of access to warm-water ports—were given full recognition she would prove tractable and cooperative in maintaining world peace after the war.”

The papers disclose that Russia refused a request by Mr Roosevelt for a United States base in Siberia from which 1000 heavy bombers could attack Japan.