MOSCOW MEETING

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 76, 13 October 1941, Page 5

MOSCOW MEETING

SUPPLIES FOR RUSSIA BRITISH AND U.S. MISSIONS LORI) BI AVEKBKOOK’S STORY <Hoc. 12.15 p.m ) Rugby, Oct. 12 1 An interesting description of the Moscow meeting was given jn a broadcast to-night by Lord Beaver brook, head jol the British Mission. He first described the machinery of the meetings. Six mixed committees of British, Arnei rican and Russian representatives were j appointed and alter working all day ( presented their reports to their respective Governments. "Then as night fell Mi - IJarriman and I drove up the lull to the Kremlin and there in consultation with M. Stalin and M. Molotov. I with M. Litvinov as interpreter, we co-ordinated and defined the considered findings of the day. But wo did not rely entirely on our interpreter M. Litvinov. We also defined a plan for speeding this up and that up that w'orkod wonders Before going to tin* Kremlin we tried to anticipate M. Stalin's questions and we prepared answers which were translated into Russian. So when the questions came instead of making statements through M Litvinov it was our habit to ; hand across the table to M. Stalin a ! complete answer all typed out in his own language. "When the nightly meetings at the Kremlin were over Mr Harriman and I would meet again at the British Em--1 bassy conferring with our colleagues, going over preparations for the next day, examining our resources, inquiring into Russian requests, discussing long ' lists of raw materials and making up statements of necessary shipping facilil ties. ; "The conclusions we reached were to supply these materials out of the resources of Britain and the United i States, each bearing a lull share of the i burden. The Russians are now being I supplied with much they asked for. And ; certainly all that at present we can j give them. TANKS, GUNS AND AIRCRAFT "As for tanks and aircraft. M. Stalin asked for just so many as had been promised. And lest there be any contusion let it be said that the full num- ) bers promised for the month of October ' had been provided. “Guns: Wc have promised also a few big guns, plenty of good guns, and plenty of ammunition. Raw* materials, too, aluminium, copper, lead, zinc, tin, cobalt, brass, rubber, jute, wool, phos- ! phorus and diamonds; shellac and a ; long list of other requirements. Of these I have mentioned practically | everything asked by the Russians has 'been agreed to. Petroleum products have ' been provided by the United States according to Russian requirements. Sev- ' oral raw materials remain for further inquiry here and in Washington. Many of these are highly specialised and de- ! vision must wait upon examination in j detail. “It was at that memorable meeting on Tuesday night, 30th September, that ! M. Stalips demands were finally formulated. For three days we had lislened to a long tale of Russian needs, for three days our committees had been ceaselessly at work considering these requirements and compiling lists for Mr Harriman and me. Then came i the night and the journey to the ! Kremlin. We must give our reply. We must make plain just how* much we could do. just what part of the burden we could bear, how great a share in the battle we could take. And we are already quite ready with our answers. The interpreter began solemnly and slowly and anxiously to read out each item, but there wa., need for his services. The lists familiar to us, we had studied them lor long, most of the things we were ready to supply, and the answers came straight from Mr Harriman or me. He said 'agreed' if the item concerned the United States. 1 said ‘okay’ when Britain was producing supplies. And as the list rolled on M. Litvinov sprang up from his seat cry- \ ir.g out with enthusiasm. M. Stalin's , relief was manifested. He was pleased j he was confident and he was satisfied, j Is he an easy man to satisfy? Not so. | He is an exacting man even though he docs not look for it.”