NOTHING TO SAY ABOUT MILITARY ALLIANCE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 90, Issue 57, 11 March 1946, Page 5

NOTHING TO SAY ABOUT MILITARY ALLIANCE

MR. TRUMAN QUESTIONED Reed, 6 p.m. Washington, March 8. Although persistently questioned, President Truman, at a Press conference to-day, declined to comment on Mr. Churchill’s proposal for an AngloAmerican military alliance. Mr. Truman said the combined British and American chiefs of staff would continue until the war emergency was officially ended. Reporters asked what might happen if Pvussia declined to comply with the United States’ request for the immediate withdrawal of troops from Persia. Mr. Truman replied, “The situation will be handled when it comes up.” Reporters suggested that a Russian refusal might mean the collapse of the United Nations Organisation, but Mr. Truman strongly disagreed. _He asserted that the United Nations Organisation would not be allowed to collapse and expressed the opinion that Russia would work with the United Nations. Mr. Truman said there were no plans for a meeting of the Big Three, but when it was next held the meeting should be in the United States. PORTUGUESE REACTION Lisbon, March 8. The Salazar Party’s evening paper, “Diario Popular,” says: “Only blind fools and the pusillanimous won’t see the truth after Churchill’s clear accusation in his ‘call to army speech.’ ” The article denounces Russia as the “biggest and most serious menace to Western civilisation and the Four Freedoms.”