West Regards Stalin's Statements As Pure Propaganda

Wanganui Chronicle, 30 October 1948, Page 5

West Regards Stalin's Statements As Pure Propaganda

WASHINGTON. Oct 29 (Recd 8 pm>.—British, French and American officials today dismissed aS pure propaganda the charges made by Stalin in his interview with the “Pravda” correspondent that the present policy of the Western Powers’ leaders was one of aggression and preparation for a new war.

Officials declined, however, to comment officially. Some said this would be merely playing the Communist propaganda game. Thev pointed out that all points made by Stalin had been replied to in official documents published bv the Western Powers regarding their diplomatic exchanges with Stalin and Molotov on the Berlin issue.

The New York press generally regards Stalin’s statement as a possible defensive move. The “New York

Times” says: “If there is one bright aspect, it is that Stalin finds it necessary to defend his policy, not only before the world, but before his own people, who must be reassured that public forces favouring peace are too strong to be defied.” it says. “But these public forces are in fact repre-' sented not by Russia, but bv the Unitd Nations, wherewith Russia alone is out of step.” The “Herald-Tribune” says the hollowness of Russian arguments on Berlin is nakedly obvious, and Stalin has resorted to “a little thunder off stage to distract attention.” The “Daily News” says: “We think Stalin is peddling propaganda about Russia’s love of peace and the Western Powers’ thirst for war in the hope of getting his own snout out of the wringer of public opinion.”