CHURCHILL REPLIES TO STALIN

Wanganui Chronicle, 31 October 1946, Page 5

CHURCHILL REPLIES TO STALIN

STRENGTH OF TROOPS IN OTHER COUNTRIES London, Oct. 29 Mr. Churchill, replying to Marshal Stalin through the Press Association, welcomed Stalin’s assurance that there are only 60 divisions in certain occupied territories in Europe, but pointed out that even 60 division on a war footing would greatly exceed the British and American forces in enemy-occupied territory in Europe. Mr. Churchill criticised Mr. Attlee’s and Mr. McNeil’s inability to correct his statement in the House of Commons about 200 divisions. “No one would have been more pleased than I to be told that 1 was misinformed," he said. Mr. Attlee and Mr. McNeil, however, showed only anxiety at the strength of the Russian mobilised forces. Jt is difficult to believe that the Allies occupying enemy territories don’t know the strength of each other’s garrisons. The matter should be cleared up and the present meetings of the United Nations Security Council should provide an early opportunity of the fullest and fairest disclosure of the strengths of all military forces. After welcoming Stalin’s statements about 60 divisions, Mr. Churchill added: “Of course the figure does not include heavy Russian concentrations at Leningrad and Odessa. I asked the Government whether my estimate of 200 divisions applied to the west was excessive, and I asked the question in such a form that it could be answered yes or bo. Considering the difference between 200 divisions and 60, it ought to have been possible, if I was in error, for a contradiction to have been given, but none was forthcoming.” Criticising the lack of knowledge by the occupying Powers of the strength of each other's garrisons, Mr. Churchill said it would be thought that this information would be shared and interchanged as a matter of course and that there would have been a reciprocal inspection of forces in respective zones. Nothing sweeps away suspicion like facts, and I consider it my duty to continue to press for facts.” He said that his information about the Russian garrisons had been based on a strength of 10,000 men per Russian division.