News Received with Satisfaction and Caution

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26769, 12 May 1948, Page 5

News Received with Satisfaction and Caution

Rec. 11.30 p.m. LONDON, May 11. Within a few hours of Moscow Radio’s dramatic announcement that Russia had agreed to open discussions with the United States, Reuter correspondents were reporting satisfactory world reaction, although political circles everywhere tempered relief with reserve about the chances of the two powers reaching a genuine understanding. In Germany, the sudden prospect of early Russo-American conversations was seen as providing the first safety valve in the condition of the dangerously mounting tension. In Paris, the news was received with a feeling of renewed hope, tempered with caution pending the knowledge about how far the Soviet was prepared to go. In Washington, the State Department so far has given no indication of its reaction to the Soviet Union’s acceptance of the proposal. Authoritative sources pointed out that the purpose of the American Note was to set forth the United States position and to say that the door was always open for discussion. The same sources said they regarded the Russian answer as “ beating about the bush ” and saying nothing definite.