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New Zealand Herald, Volume 82, Issue 25357, 12 November 1945, Page 5

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TRUMAWS GUEST FUTURE OF WORLD ATOM BOMB SHADOW VISIT OTTAWA LATEIi (Reed. 7.30 p.m.) WASHINGTON, Nov. 11 The Prime Minister of Britain, Mr Attlee, arrived in Washington by air yesterday for his talks with President Truman and the Prime Minister of Canada, Mr Mackenzie King. He was accompanied by Sir John Anderson, head of the British committee for the development of atomic energy. During his absence from Britain the Lord President of the Council, Mr Herbert Morrison, will be in general charge of Government business. The first meeting -began ahead of schedule at the White House immediately after luncheon. Both luncheon and conference were attended by Mr Truman, Mr Byrnes (Secretary of State), Mr Attlee, Lord Halifax (British Ambassador), Mr Mackenzie King, Mr [.ester Pearson (Canadian Ambassador), Admiral Leahy (Mr Truman's Chief of Staff), and Mr J. 11. Rowan L AIr Attire's private secretary).

May Last Fortnight The Associated Press says a definite agenda has been prepared hut, according to the New York Herald-Tribune's Washington correspondent, neither the White House nor the State Pepartment would say specifically what subjects are on the agenda. However, some observers believe tins means that the agenda will be decided upon in talks at the White House. Estimates of the length of the conference range from three days to a fortnight. It i s widely believed that one issue certain to be discussed is the Palestine problem. This belie! was strengthened when Mr Truman conferred with the United States Ministers to Egypt. Syria, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and 1 alestine. Differences With Soviet There are distinct indications, both m the White House and State Department, that the atomic energy problem cannot be solved without a solution of the paramount differences between Britain, America and the Soviet in Europe and the Far East. Newspapermen were informed that the opening sessions would be confined to policy talks. Scientific experts will not he called in. , _ Sir John Anderson, while en route to Washington, told New York reporters that some international arrangement must be made for the atom bomb. That the talks may cover more than the atom bomb problem is indicated by the fact that Sir John Anderson is not accompanying Mr Truman and Mr Attlee on their cruise today on the Potomac River. State Dinner Held

An earlier message said Mr Attlee last night was a guest at the White House, where a State dinner was held. Today he is visiting Arlington Cemetery where, with Mr Truman, he will lav a wreath on the tomb of the unknown soldier. He will then board the President's launch on the Potomac River. , . . Mr Mackenzie King, who will join the talks today, has indicated that Mr Attlee will visit Ottawa and address Parliament. The date of the visit is uncertain. Speaking in London before his departure. Mr Attlee said he was going to America to discuss the world in the light of the discovery of the atom bomb. "We have already had experience of the atom bomb," lie added, "and we cannot be sure that science applied to warfare will not discover other more terrible weapons. Kind of World Society "The question facing us is not so much how to control the new devastating force loosed on the world, as what kind of world society is necessary in a world where a few bombs might utterly destroy great cities, the work of centuries of human endeavour. One cannot conceive today any extension of territory, any grandiose dream of domination, which has the slightest value in face of this danger." Mr Attlee said he would go to America with the object of exchanging ideas as to how best they could lift from the ordinary man and woman the spectre of fear that haunted them.

NEGRO PIANISTE APPEARANCE CANCELLED (Reed. 8.10 p.m.) WASHINGTON, Nov. 11 Hazel Scott, negro pianiste and wife of the Rev Adam Clayton Powell, only negro in the House of Representatives, has cancelled her appearance arranged to take place at a dinner for President Truman and Mr Attlee under the auspices of the National Press Club, because negro newspapermen are not. eligible for membership of the club or for the galleries of Congress. Telegraphing the cancellation the pianiste said: "I trust the day will come when qualified journalists of my race _ will be accepted without distinction." Following the refusal of the Daughters of the American Revolution recently to permit Hazel Scott to rent their hall for a concert, her husband asked Mrs Truman not to attend a tea in her honour arranged by the organisation. Mrs Truman in reply deplored f>rejudice against race or origin but said ler acceptance of the invitation was not related to the merits of the issue. PEACE TALKS HELD UP RUSSIA MAY BE STALLING (Reed. 7.40 p.m.) NEW YORK, Nov. 10 Little headway has been made in obtaining assent from Russia regarding the general peace conference which the United States proposed at the London Council of Foreign Ministers, says the New York Times Washington correspondent. Persons in close touch with the situation said there was some evidence of stalling on the question, likewise in regard to Soviet representation on the Far East Advisory Commission. It is learned from persons who attended the Foreign Ministers' Conference that Russia asked for militarv bases in the Dodecanese which other Powers wish to reserve for Greece. It is recalled that, the United States Secretary of State. Mr J. F. Byrnes, in a nationwide broadcast on October 5, 1 said only one member at the conference withheld approval of such a step, pending further study. That member appears to have been Russia. APPEAL FOR NURSES URGENT NEED IN BRITAIN (Reed 6.30. p.m.) LONDON, Nov. 10 The Minister of Health, Mr Aneurin Hovan. launching an appeal for recruits to meet the hospitals' urgent need for more nurses, said there was a shortage of .TI.OOO to ,'M.OOO nurses in Britain. "This is serious enough in itself," said Mr Bevan. "but if we are faced with an epidemic this winter, seriousness may degenerate into national tragedy.' 1 1