SALUTE TO RUSSIANS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26354, 8 January 1947, Page 5

SALUTE TO RUSSIANS

PRAISE FOR BRAVERY MONTGOMERY IN MOSCOW LONDON, Jan. 6. Field-Marshal Viscount Montgomery has arrived in Moscow. He was met by Marshal Vasilevsky, Chief of the Soviet General Staff. They shook hands warmly. Field-Marshal Montgomery said that Russia was the nation which suffered most severely from the war. Her people bore the suffering in brave silence. ' “ I salute the brave Russian people,” he said. ‘‘l want to establish friendly contact with the Soviet Army. I hope there may develop mutual understanding, respect and happy relationship which will be for the mutual benefit of all.” Field-Marshal Montgomery brought Marshal Vasilevsky a gift from London, and he will present it later in the evening. Field-Marshal Montgomery’s visit to Moscow was an achievement of the Labour Party’s “ brains trust,” said Professor Harold Laski at Brussels, according to the British United Press correspondent. Professor Laski said that Field-Mar-shal Montgomery’s visit was intended especially as a protection against a third world war, and was undertaken for the purpose of discussing military questions. Professor Laski added that all British staff secrets were open to the Russians. The main thing was to promote confidence between the Russians and the Allies. “No one in Russia wants war, from Stalin down to the smallest farmer,” he said. Reuter’s correspondent says that. Professor Laski added; “The same unity in the matter of the agreement which exists between Britain and America will be made available to Russia if Russia accepts it.” The gift Field-Marshal Montgomery brought for Marshal Vasilevsky was “ something to drink,” says Reuter’s Moscow correspondent. The British United Press said that the gift was a case of Scotch whisky, bearing the imprint, “Britain delivers the goods.”