MOSCOW TALKS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 89, Issue 300, 20 December 1945, Page 5

MOSCOW TALKS

CORDIAL ATMOSPHERE BLACK-OUT ON THE NEWS Recd. 11 p.m. Moscow Dec. 19. Yesterday’s session of the conference between the Foreign Ministers of I Britain, United States and Russia was l the longest yet held, lasting three hours, 20 minutes. The news blackout continues, and is likely to be maintained lor the dura[tion of the conference, but Reuter’s I correspondent says newspapermen have been told that “it has made a good start,” and that the discussions, so far, have been “very friendly.” Mr. Bevin is anxiously awaiting the arrival of planes delayed by bad weather, carrying members of the delegation staff Mr. Bevin yesterday conferred with the New Zealand Minister, Mr. Boswell, the Australian Minister, Mr. Maloney, and the Canadian Charge d’Affaires, Mr. Meyrand. Mr. Bevin and Mr. Byrnes expected to see the Chinese Ambassador and the French Ambassador in the next two days. A correspondent broadcasting from Moscow says that Mr. Byrnes and Mr. Bevin wold certainly visit M. Stalin some time during the conference to pay their respects. Just as the three Foreign Ministers were settling down to real business the day before yesterday it was announced at Moscow that “Comrade Stalin has returned from leave after guiding the nation through the war.” For the last seven weeks M. Stalin has been a resort on the black Sea coast and there had been rumours about an illness. However, before the announcement was made Mr. Bevin had made inquiries and been told that* M. Stalin was in good health although’ nothing was said about his immediate return.