KNOTTY FOREIGN PROBLEMS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 89, Issue 225, 22 September 1945, Page 5

KNOTTY FOREIGN PROBLEMS

SLOW PROGRESS MADE BRITISH REACTION TO THE CLAIMS OF RUSSIA BEVIN-3IOLOTOV CLASH REPORTED. Recd. 5.5 p.m. London Sept. 21. Progress by the Foreign Ministers’ Council undoubtedly has been slower than expected, says "The Times” diplomatic correspondent. Even if the Council speeds up the Ministers can hardly hope to deal adequately with lheir heavy programme before Thursday or Friday of next week. The proposed treaty with Finland ma> not. occupy much time, but when they turn to the Balkans to disquss the Peace Treaty for Hungary, Rumania and Bulgaria the Ministers immediately enter controversial ground. The conference may decide that the time has not yet comp for discussing peace treaties, and will pass on to the next business. "The tentative Russian claim to Tripolitania, at which Mr. Molotov delicately hinted may perhaps have heen the retort courteous to an attempt by the Western Powers to intervene in regions as remote from their normal spheres of interest as Tripoli from Russia.” says "The Times” in a leader, "or perhaps a reminder of Russia's legitimate concern—sometimes too easily ignored—in the settlement of Mediterranean. Middle East, and Eastern affairs. It seems unlikely to be pressed, and would hardly provide a satisfactory solution for the Tripolitarian problem.” The “Daily Mail.” in a leader, says: "The disclosure of Russia’s Mediterranean ambitions means that she Is reaching out. to rep-ions which arc of vital interest to Britain. We are entitled to the largest share in the discussions about the disposal of Italian colonies. British Imperial armies; conquered the enemv in those territories,' iust as the Russians defeated him in eastern Enron?. We only need to imagine what "Izvestia” and "Pravda” would say to a British claim for a share in the Government of Polish Ukraine to appreciate what kind of position h n s now arisen in the Mediterranean. Britain does not wish to play nower politics, but has rights and claims as well as other nations, and there is nn reason why they should not be heard. The Associated Press Paris correspondent quoting a Foreign Office source.- savs that numerous tablebounding clashes occurred between Mr Bovin and Mr. Molotov at. the Foreign Ministers’ Council. There was heated argument on nearly every subject under discussion in which Britain and Russia had interests, both men crashing Iheiv first and resorting to loud tones. This was in contrast, to the calm of previous important. inter-Al-lied conferences. Mr. Bevln’s temperament is noticeably more volatile than that of his predecessor, Mr. Eden.