STALIN ILL-INFORMED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26451, 3 May 1947, Page 7

STALIN ILL-INFORMED

TREND OF CURRENT EVENTS

EVIDENCE IN RECENT TALKS

Spcial Correspondent

Rec, 8 p.m.' LONDON, May 2. A report in the European edition of the New York Herald-Tribune claims to give the burden of the discussion between Mr Stalin and Mr Bevin in Moscow during the British coal crisis. It states that Mr Stalin opened the discussion by suggesting to Mr Bevin that Britain should solve her coal difficulties by taking what she required from the Ruhr, ignoring the requirments of the rest of Europe. Inadequately Advised This lead to a discussion of 'the German problem as a whole. Mr Bevin was surprised to find that Mr Stalin had a very restricted briefing from his advisers. When Mr Bevin mentioned the four-power Treaty to keep Germany disarmed, as first suggested by Mr James Byrnes, it was

necessary for Mr Molotov, who was also present, to explain to Mr Stalin what treaty Mr Bevin meant. Mr Stalin seemed unaware of any of the proposals for the administration of Germany other than those advanced by his own Government.! When the talk turned to a discussion of Anglo-Soviet relations, Mr Stalin said Russia would soon have a surplus of wheat and timber which it could exchange with Britain. Vague Requirement Mr Bevin then raised the suggested revision of the Anglo-Soviet Treaty and bluntly asked Mr Stalin what he wanted. Mr Stalin replied briefly, “An improvement.” In subsequent negotiations. Mr Vyshinsky suggested to Sir Maurice Peterson that the treaty should contain certain clauses which would “ guarantee mutual loyalty.” He went on to interpret mutual loyalty in terms which suggested that the Soviet thought the British press and any other agencies which might criticise Russia should be muzzled. Other clauses were also suggested which were plainly intended to prevent any alliance between Britain and the United States. The correspondent says the talk revealed what had long been suspected, that Mr Stalin is not kept fully informed by his subordinates and that the prime objective of Soviet foreign policy is to prevent a working arrangement on foreign policy between Britain and the United States.