TALKS WITH SOVIET

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27318, 18 February 1950, Page 7

TALKS WITH SOVIET

Satisfactory Outcome Unlikely

RECORD OF BROKEN AGREEMENTS New Zealand Press Association—Copyright Kec. 6.55 p.m. NEW YORK, Feb. 17. General Lucius Clay, former American Military Governor in Germany, said to-day that a Big Three Conference such as proposed by Mr Churchill could lessen international tension but could not resolve our problems with Russia. “ The thought that we can resolve our differences with Russia by agreement is just a wishful thought,” he said. “ The Russians have had many agreements in the past and never carried them out.”

General Clay told a press conference that the only time the United States would be able to enter a realistic agreement with Russia would be when the Russian people had free access to information on what was going on in the world. “And, of course, that can never happen under the present Government, which could not endure under such a policy,” General Clay added.

President Truman said today that the United States would always keep the door open to peace negotiations, but the next meeting with Mr Stalin would have to take place in Washington.

He gave a firm “No comment ” when asked about Mr Churchill’s suggestion that another talk with Mr Stalin may be held to end the cold war. The President was speaking in his weekly press conference, where he was faced with a barrage of questions about the possibility of a new approach to' Mr Stalin to end the cold war. He specifically stated that he did not think the time had come to send a special mission to Russia along the lines of the mission which he had considered sending in 1948 under Chief Justice Fred Vinson. When asked whether he would endorse such world Government proposals as. the Atlantic union plan now being discussed by Congress as a means of removing the threat of hydrogen bomb warfare, the President replied that he did not think now was the proper time for such organisations. He added that there were other much more important matters to think of. President Truman said the United States was ready to negotiate on any question that may come up in the world, and its ambassadors in every capital were available for consultations.

He added that proposals for international atomic energy controls should be dealt with by the United Nations, which had ample negotiating machinery.

A London message says: The Deputy Prime Minister, Mr Herbert Morrison, referring to Mr ChurchUl’s proposal for a new approach to Mr Stalin, said; “ This is hardly the time for soap-box diplomacy.” He spoke of Mr Churchill’s “ vague and irresponsible intervention in the field of foreign affairs,” adding: “Labour is as keen as anybody to bring about a general lasting settlement in the interest of the whole world. Our Foreign Secretary has not, and will not, lose any opportunity to that end and .no really useful suggestion will be spumed.”