Foreign Ministers’ Council

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVIII, Issue 23322, 4 October 1945, Page 5

Foreign Ministers’ Council

Angry Scene Witnessed Disquieting International Situation By Telegraph N.Z Press Assn -Copvrluhi (Received 7.30 p.m.) LONDON, October 3. THE' Council of Foreign Ministers has decided to A terminate its present session, states a communique. The Council met twice yesterday, M. Molotov presiding in the morning and Dr. Wang Shik-Chieh in the afternoon. “A disquieting situation in international affairs has arisen” says the diplomatic correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph.” “Not only urgent problems, on the solution of which the first steps towards European recovery depend but, perhaps more important, the whole conception of co-operation through consultation between Foreign Ministers, envisaged by Mr Roosevelt and Generalissimo Stalin is jeopardised.” Describing the deadlock the correspondent says that the tempers of the Foreign Ministers were frayed by long argumentative sessions. There is some foundation for the report of a sharp encounter between Mr Bevin and M. Molotov. Mr Bevin, it is reported, compared M. Molotov’s tactics with those of the Germans. M. Molotov, after the words were interpreted, rose quickly, walked to the door and announced that, unless the words were withdrawn, he would quit the conference, but it was Mr Bevin who walked out. The diplomatic correspondent of the “Daily Express” says that the end of the conference was dramatic. Arguments went round and round the point and were repeated again and again. Finally, Dr. Wang looked slowly round the room and asked' quietly: “Is it agreed that we meet again to-morrow ?” There was dead silence. “Then is it agreed that we meet again to-night?” Again complete silence. The Foreign Ministers’ Council was over.