FOREIGN MINISTERS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 89, Issue 227, 25 September 1945, Page 5

FOREIGN MINISTERS

LONDON CONFERENCE HAS RESUMED DELAYS AND DIFFICULTIES BRITISH PRESS CRITICAL.

Recd. 11.10 p.m. London, Sept. 24. The Foreign Ministers of the live Great Powers (Britain, United States, Soviet Rus ia, China and France) have resumed their conference in London after a respite at the weekend. The British Press is very critical of the delays and lack of progress generally made by the Council of Foreign Ministers, in their approach to the peace treaties with Italy and Finland, and to grappling with the complicated Balkan problems. British official; describe the situation that has arisen at the Foreign Ministers’ conference as a deadlock, but admit serious difficulties between the Russian and Western Powers’ delegates.

The “Daily Express” diplomatic corre_pondert says that the latest difficulty relates to whether governments which have no armistice arrangements with the Baikan countries should participate in framing peace treaties. M. Molotov, it is believed, holds that the Chinese and French delegates should be excluded from these discussions.

“It is generally counted a good thing that there were no meetings today (Sunday) says ‘The Times ’ diplomatic correspondent, because each delegate will have time to breathe and take stock. The council so far has been divided in two ch ef ways when there have been discussions on the Balkans.

“Firstly, there is the degree of military strength which the former Axis satellites should be allowed to keep. The British view is that if armaments are Kent restricted, there is less danger of Balkan rivalries becoming dangerous, involving the large Powers. “Little progress has so far been made on the second main issue, the question whether the Bulgarians, Ruman’an and Hungarian regimes may be regarded as democratic. This involves intang,ble philosophical and idealogical issues, which the conference is loth to tackle.”

The “Daily Mail,” in a leading article, says: “It is incorrect to say that the London conference has completely broken down. It is still in being and before the delegates disperse no doubt some face-saving formula will be devised to cover their activities, but the mere fact that so many outstandingly important matters have been referred to the deputies shows the extent to which the council has failed to achieve its objects. Russia appears to have an indelible suspicion of the Western Powers and acts accordingly. The only result of this is to arouse counter-suspicion and forfeit the almost illimitable goodwill she has enjoyed among the mass of the peoples.” Mr. Attlee returned to-day from Balmoral and immediately conferred with Mr. Bevin on difficulties which have arisen at the Foreign Ministers’ conference.