“GONE WRONG”

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 204, 30 August 1943, Page 5

“GONE WRONG”

SOMETHING POLITICAL AT QUEBEC OUTSPOKEN COMMENT Reed. 6 p.m. London. Aug. 27. One of the most outspoken leaders yet published on the Quebec discussions appears in the Daily Mail. ... “The paper says: “The conference ended on an undisguisable note of flatness and frustration. Tn bolh Britain and America there is disappointment and bewilderment and a vague feeling that politically something has gone wrong. Over all is the shadow of the great Kremlin mystery. Moscow before the talks began told the world that Russia had not. been invited and the removal of M. Litvinov from Washington was announced in the middle of the conference. The explanations of Russia’s nonparticipation sounded reasonable enough, but. it is not surprising that suspicion has spread that there is some kind of political rift between Britain. America and Russia—suspicion further strengthened by reports of a serious quarrel between Mr. Sumner Welles (who is reputed to be pro-Russian) and Mr. Cordell Hull. A general clearing of Ihe air has become imperative, and therein the Russians have got. to offer some assistance. The first political task of the United States is the calling of a three-Power conference to examine firstly such divergencies as exist, and secondly to hammer out an agreed war and post-war policy. “The Russians in particular would do well to be less enigmatic. Their present aloofness, though to some extent understandable in view of their terrific military task, has ceased to be helpful. A complete lack of knowledge of Russian hopes encl intentions after the war keeps Finland and Rumania bound more closely to Germany, and sustains a doubt in the mind of the Poles and encourages well-disposed neutrals like Turkey and Sweden to remain outside the struggle. If they can further encourage the diehards in England and America, talks of permanent world conciliation will be more difficult and deep. A close Anglo-American understanding is a good, indeed a vital thing. A deep, close British, American and Russian understanding would be something very much better. It can be attained only if all the three high Powers concerned co-operate.”