DANGERS SEEN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26770, 13 May 1948, Page 7

DANGERS SEEN

Soviet-American Talks BARGAINING BY RUSSIA Cautious Reception in Britain New Zealand Press Association—Copyright. Rec. 9 p.m. LONDON, May 12. The British Government was not informed of the conversations between the Soviet Foreign Minister, Mr Molotov, and the American Ambassador in Moscow, General Bedell Smith, but the diplomatic correspondent of The Times says that if the United States Government had not themselves been forestalled by Moscow publishing the news, they would doubtless have consulted the other Western Powers at a later stage. Even so, there is no inclination in London to minimise the importance of the new move and the apparent eagerness with which the Russians have seized upon the opportunity of arranging a meeting with the United States, has not escaped notice. There is, therefore, some hope that settlement may at last be reached with Russia. But the general attitude, The Times correspondent adds, is one of caution. It is pointed out that although a conference between the United States and Soviet Union would be a step in the right direction it is not the agreements but the carrying out of them that matters and the history of past conversations .and agreements between the Great Powers have been too disappointing for the new development to be greeted with unqualified optimism.

The Times, in a leader, emphasises that in any RussoAmerican negotiations the dangers are obvious, and one of them, the paper says, is that Russia might seem to bargain one area against another. The Russians, for example, might agree to leave Austria if the Western Allies.' left Berlin. Another danger is that the Russians might seek to persuade the Americans to reach a decision in matters of vital importance to the countries of Western Europe. These and other dangers can be warded off only if the agenda is precise. The Times adds: “ Meanwhile, no false hopes can permit any slackening in the movement for closer union and greater strength in Western Europe. Any faltering now would be folly beyond words.” The Paris correspondent of The Times says that underlying the official French satisfaction with the exchange of Notes between the United States and Soviet Governments, is a good deal of scepticism about the chances of a successful outcome. The French Government was not kept informed of the American moves and it is believed that General Beddell Smith, who arrived in Paris last night, was on his way to acquaint Western European

nations with what was afoot when the Russian Government decided to forestall him, partly in the hope of creating bewilderment, dismay, or resentment in some Western European capitals, and partly with the intention of signifying that the Soviet Government wants no third party interference in its talks with the United States, The correspondent points out that it has long been a French assumption that settlement might one day be reached through direct

Russo-American negotiations over the heads, if not behind the backs and at the expense, of their former Allies and enemies, and this.', he says, explains the frequent reluctance of the French during the past two or three years to commit themselves too far to one side. General Beddell Smith, on his arrival in Paris, said the Russians had violated a confidence in releasing the account of his conversations with Mr Molotov, which he had regarded as “ completely confidential.” It was the first time the Russians had done such a thing, he added. He conferred with the American Ambassador to France, Mr Jefferson Caffery, and with Mr Averill Harriman, American Special Ambassador for the European Recovery Programme.