LONDON OFFICIALS NOT ATTRACTED BY EITHER PROPOSAL

Wanganui Chronicle, 1 November 1946, Page 5

LONDON OFFICIALS NOT ATTRACTED BY EITHER PROPOSAL

Recti. 5.5 p.m. London, Oct. 31. London officials have not been attracted by either of Mr. Molotov’s two proposals put before the United Nations Assembly, namely that each Power should disclose the number of troops it maintains in non-enemy countries, and his proposed reduction of armaments. "The Times” diplomatic correspodent points out that such disclosures would be instructive only if a precisely detailed number of troops and their exact stations, and it is highly unlikely that any Power would be willing to do so at present. Certainly the British Government, with special responsibilities for defending and patrolling straggling Imperial lines, would not want to be under any such obligation. The correspondent adds that there is the warmest agreement with Mr. Molotov’s desire for reduction ot armaments, but pre-war experience has showed that international agreement could be effective only if all the Powers agreed to the fullest inspection of their arms factories, and there is little likelihood that such agreement would be forthcoming at present