LONDON TALKS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27385, 10 May 1950, Page 7

LONDON TALKS

Planning Without Russia URGENT PROBLEMS (From E. G. Webber, NZPA Special Correspondent « LONDON, May 8. Preliminary reports suggest that when the Foreign Ministers of Britain, the United States, and France meet in London on Thursday they will begin their deliberations on the assumption that their present difficulties with Soviet Russia are not likely to be settled in the foreseeable future, and that they must proceed to make plans accordingly. According to American newspaper forecasts, which are largely supported by British comment, the American Secretary of State, Mr Dean Acheson, will bring forward a plan for waging a “ counter cold war ” against Communism/and will suggest that urgent concerted moves be made to regain diplomatic initiative. It i,s considered that the Westest Powers have at the moment lost this initiative because of the Communist successes in China and Russian claims to possess atomic secrets, although this adverse balance has been partly redressed by Vhe consolidation of Marshal Tito s regime in Yugoslavia and the expulsion of the Communist rebels from Greece. This American plan, if Mr Acheson brings it forward, will undoubtedly be the background to all the deliberations of the conference. These will, however, cover a very, wide field, ranging from the future of Trieste to preparations for the Japanese peace treaty. Expert advisers of the three Foreign Ministers have already been working in London for a fortnight clearing the ground so that their principals can proceed to the most important issues with a minimum of delay. No set agenda has been drawn up for the Ministers, but it is generally assumed that the question of Western Germany’s future and her relationship with the Atlantic Treaty Powers will rank very high upon it. German Question Mr Acheson Is believed to regard Germany as the key point in the cold war, and to be prepared to recommend that the present occupation statute, which does not expire until September, should be revised without further ado. French objections to this are likely to be stronger than the British, but neither Britain nor France is' prepared to go so far as the Americans in restoring German freedom. Obviously one of the chief objects of the conference will be to reconcile the differences of the three Powers on this point. Communist China Another important question for consideration is the position of Communist China. The French are strongly opposed to recognition of Mao Tse-. Tung while Russia and China continue to back Ho Chi Minh in his war against France in Indo-China. American opinion is stated to be hardening in the same direction, whereas Britain has nominally had diplomatic relations with the Chinese Communists for the past four months—in which time she has not even succeeded in obtaining an exchange of Ambassadors. This question of China has also a direct effect upon the value of the United Nations Assembly as an international sounding board. At present the Russians refuse to participate in any United Nations activities in which representatives of Nationalist China appear, and there seems to be no prospect of changing the Russian attitude. American Aid While Mr Acheson is expected to urge Britain and France to expedite their defence and economic preparations to resist further Communist incursions, the British Foreign Secretary, Mr Ernest Bevin, and the French Foreign Minister, M. Robert Schuman, on their part, are expected to emphasise that they will require further assistance from the United States if this is to be done effectively. The formal conference between Mr Acheson, Mr Bevin and M. Schuman will last for three days, but the American and French Foreign Ministers will remain in London for a meeting of the Atlantic Treaty Council which will follow. This will give them further opportunities to develop their plans and to endeavour to enlist the support of other Atlantic Treaty countries for them.