Mr Stalin Impressed by Peace Programme Offer From Mr Henry Wallace

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26775, 19 May 1948, Page 5

Mr Stalin Impressed by Peace Programme Offer From Mr Henry Wallace

New Zealand Press Association—Copyright.

Rec. 9 p.m. LONDON, May 18. Mr Joseph Stalin, in a personal letter to Mr Henry Wallace, former United States Secretary of State, and a third party candidate for the Presidential election this year, says that Mr Wallace’s open letter to him is the most important among political documents of recent times which have as their aim the consolidation of peace, the setting up of international co-operation, and the ensuring of democracy. Mr Stalin’s letter, which was quoted in a broadcast by Moscow Radio, is dated May 17.

Mr Wallace, in his letter to Mr Stalin, urges Russia and the United States to end the “ cold war,” and ensure “ a century of peace.” Mr Wallace proposed that the United States and the Soviet take the following steps to end the “ cold war First, the general reduction of armaments and the outlawing of all methods of mass destruction; secondly, the prohibition of arms exports by any nation; thirdly, the resumption of unrestricted trade between the United States and Russia; fourthly, the free movement of citizens, students and newspapermen between the two countries. Fifthly, the resumption of free exchange of scientific information and material; sixthly, the re-estab-lishment of a United Nations agency to distribute international relief; seventhly, speedy peace settlements with Germany and Japan, and the withdrawal of occupation troops within a year; eighthly, the withdrawal of American and Russian troops from China and Korea, and the establishment of a Government for all Korea; ninthly, pledges by the United States and the Soviet that they have no territorial designs on any other nations. Mr Wallace urged an open and fullyreported meeting of American and Soviet representatives. Mr Stalin says that the inadequacy of the recent Molotov-Bedell Smith exchanges of Notes consists, in fact, that they go no further than declaring the desirability of settling SovietAmerican differences. Mr Stalin says that Mr Wallace's letter cannot be said to embrace all questions of difference, but that is not the most important thing at the present time. The main thing is that he makes an open and honest attempt to give a concrete programme for peaceful settlement—concrete proposals on all basic questions of difference between the Soviet and the United States. Mr Stalin says: “It is possible to agree and disagree with Mr Wallace's programme, but one thing is, nevertheless. beyond doubt—there is no statesman caring for peace and cooperation among peoples who can ignore this programme since it reflects the hopes and strivings of the peoples towards the consolidation of peace, and it doubtless will have the support of many millions of ordinary people. I do not know whether the United States Government approves Mr Wal-

lace's programme as a basis for agreement between the Soviet and the United States. "As far as the Government of the Soviet is concerned," said Mr Stalin, “ it considers that Mr Wallace’s programme could serve as a good and fruitful basis for such agreement and for the development of international co-operation, since the Government of the Soviet considers that, in spite of the difference in economic systems and ideologists, the co-existence of these systems and peaceful settlement of differences between the Soviet and the United States are not only possible, but also doubtlessly necessary in the interests of general peace." In New York, Mr Henry Wallace, when shown newspaper accounts of Mr Stalin's reply to his open letter, commented: “ If I have done anything that moves the world further toward peace, I feel that my campaign will have been a success.” Mr Wallace, who expressed surprise that Mr Stalin had replied, also remarked that perhaps world diplomats should examine his letter to Mr Stalin. Mr Wallace said that Mr Stalin's comment actually was not addressed to him. “This is a statement by the Premier of Russia to the people of the United States offering peace. It is a real and definite offer by Russia to set down and discuss our differences, and to find ways and means of ending the ‘ cold war.’ ” , Mr Stalin’s reply to Mr Wallace seems to prove that Moscow is determined to make the United States Government shoulder the responsibility of rejecting the Soviet “ peace offer,” says Reuter's diplomatic correspondent, who points out that by accepting Mr Wallace’s programme as a “ good and fruitful basis” for Soviet-American agreement, Mr Stalin avoided one of the United States Government's main objections to direct talks, mainly, that "such talks would serve no purpose unless based on concrete Soviet proposals for removing outstanding differences. The correspondent says it is felt in London that some official redefinition of United States attitude to Moscow’s initiative for direct talks is now inevitable. The United Press reports from Washington say that Government officials said privately that Mr Stalin’s statement in no way changed their attitude—that the United States should avoid any kind of “ peace talks ” with Russia until the balance of power is re- ‘ stored in Europe and the preponderance of that power is held in the west.