Western Envoys Have A Long Interview With Stalin In Regard To Future Of Germany

Wanganui Chronicle, 4 August 1948, Page 5

Western Envoys Have A Long Interview With Stalin In Regard To Future Of Germany

Received 11.50 p.m. LONDON, Aug. 3 The British Foreign Secretary (Mr. Ernest Bevin), in London, and the United States Secretary of State (Mr. Marshall), in Washington, are considering reports made to them by their respective envoys in Moscow, who waited on Mr. Stalin yesterday,

and for two hours discussed wit The Soviet Foreign Minister (Mr. Molotov) was present during the interview. The two-hour interview Stalin granted the envoys is the longest interview he has ever granted such representatives. Britain was represented by Mr. Bevin’s personal secretary (Mr Frank Roberts), the United States bv its Ambassador in Moscow (General Bedell-Smith), and France, by its Am- | bassador (M. Yves Chataingeau). Extreme secrecy surrounded the J visit to the Kremlin. The envoys met first at the United States Embassy and later went separately to the Kremlin. After, the interview thev met again at the Embassy and for hours he’d a discussion. They are now awaiting reports from their respective Governments. It is not expected that any announcement will be made as to the result of the interview until all three

h him the situation in Germany. Governments are prepared to release the information simultaneously in their own capitals. Reuter's Moscow correspondent says it is supposed Marshal Sokolovsky (Russian commander in Germany) was present. He adds that all three envoys seemed in good spirits after the meeting. The Russians are re-routing their telegraph and telephone lines from Western Europe and the western part of the Soviet zone of Germany so that the lines go around instead of through the western sectors of Berlin, says Reuter’s Berlin correspondent. Communications headquarters for ail Germany hitherto has been in the United States sector. The Russians are now establishing their own communications centre in the Soviet sector. “The Times” diplomatic correspondent says the fact that Stalin agreed to receive the three Western envoys is regarded in London as a ; "definite step forward” and in Paris I as indicating a favourable “climate."