THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 3, 1951.
RUSSIA AGREES TO MEETING Preliminary Talks To Draw Up Big Four Agenda Discussions To Be Confined
To Issue Of Germany
London, Jan. 2.
Moscow Radio has made known the details of the Soviet reply to the identical notes of the United States, Britain and France on the agenda of a proposed meeting of the "Big Four" Foreign Ministers.
The Radio said the Russian note stated that the proposed meeting should be held in Moscow, Paris or London, but not in New York.
The note denied Western allegations of the rearma ment of East Germany, describing them as inventions from beginning to end and in no way corresponding to reality.
* According to Moscow Radio the note said that the position of the Soviet Union on the subject of all-German
elections, was well known.
The noté said,
Germany,
A large part of the Common- wealth talks, especially on Far Eastern affairs, will, observers believed, inevitably turn to the
attitude to be taken towards China.
try to play the role of an inter-
Canada, it is expected, will
preter between the views of the United States and those of the The note claimed that from of the United States, Great
Commonwealth powers who the facts published it was patent Britain and France are creating have recognised Peking. that the three Western Powers a regular German army in
India's view, as is would organise in Western. Ger- Western
well- not just many a regular German army. forming some sort of police de-known, has been that recognition of the Peking Government and "While con- tachments - as- the Foreign tinuing to consider that the Ministers of the three Western the admission of its representa- question of the demilitarisation Powers have stated officially tives to the United Nations is the key to the solution of the of Germany is the most im- but whole divisions." portant for the purpose, of secur- The Russian reply further international crisis. ing international
Mr Jawaharlal Nehru, India's peace and said that the note of the French security, affecting the vital in- Government of Dec. 22 provid-Prime Minister, is expected to terests of the peoples of Europe ed reason to think that
it press this point again at the and first and foremost those agreed with the proposal of the London talks. Reuter. who had suffered as a result of Soviet Government as regards a aggression, the Soviet Govern- joint examination by the four ment is agreeable to discuss Powers of the question of the other problems, too, connected demilitarisation of Germany. with Germany, which are in conformity with the proposals made in the note of Nov. 3 on the position of the Soviet Go- "vernment and with the Prague declaration of the eight (Comin- form) Governments".
BRITISH OPTIMISM
London, Jan. 2. American officials have al- ready expressed disappoint- ment at the Soviet note, be- lieving it does not indicate any genuine desire on the part of the Russians for a settlement.
"The Soviet Government accords great importance to this, in as much as the realisation of the demilitarisation of Germany was not only provided for by the Potsdam Agreement of the Both Britain and France tried United States, the U.S.S.R., Great to be. more optimistic. After The note further said that the Britain and France, but remains Russian publication of the Soviet Government did not ob- the most important condition for Kremlin's reply, British officials ject to the proposal to convene ensuring peace and security in admitted it showed réluctance a preliminary conference of the Europe, and also corresponds to to discuss anything except Ger- representatives of France, the the national interests of the many. British officials gave USA., Great Britain and the German people itself," the Rus- the "highest marks for in- USSR. to enable the drawing sian reply went on,
graph early in the Soviet note comprehensibility" to a para- up of an agenda for the session
"It is known to the world,
of the Council of Foreign Minis-however, that of late it is which seemed to indicate
.ters.
"It stands to reason that the examination of the problems which have to be discussed by the session of the four Foreign Ministers itself will not consti- tute the task of such a pre- liminary discussion," the note added.
on
the
the Governments precisely
of Russians might want to expand the United States, of Great the Council to include China Britain and France which are or at least to discuss the taking various measures for the Council's competence and com- re-birth of a regular German position. army and for the restoration of
"In making this proposal, the war industry in Western Ger-Soviet reply said, referring to its many, and have already been Nov. 3 proposal for a conference conducting official negotiations on Germany only, the Soviet these problems with the Government proceeded not Adenauer Government, which merely from the necessity of reflects the striving of certain holding a just conference of the aggressive circles to place the Four Ministers peoples of Europe before a fait purpose of consulting on serious questions, but from the necessity of convening precisely the Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs to examine the question pertaining to competence of the Council of Foreign Ministers
EUROPE AS VENUE "As to the place where the preliminary conference is con-. vened, the Soviet. Government proposes to convene the con- ference not in New York, but accompli."
Such actions by the Western in Moscow, Paris or London, şince the holding of such
Governments created a serious conference in one of the above-difficulty in the solution of all mentioned capitals
without problems which had to be dis- doubt represents a
cussed by the Council of Foreign practical
of Ministers, "the convening convenience for the majority of those taking part," the
which is being, for some rea- Soviet note continued.
son, delayed indefinitely", the "The assertion of the
Russian note concluded.-Reu- Go- vernment of France that
the
ter. proposals set forth in the Prague statement cannot serve as a basis for a positive solu- tion of the German problem arouses degitimate perplexity in as much as this assertion made before these proposals were subjected to examination by the four Powers.
BRITISH ACTION
London, Jan. 2. Russia's latest note to the Western Powers on the sub- ject of four-power was
talks will be discussed by the Common- wealth Prime Ministers' Con- ference beginning here on Thursday, informed sources said tonight.
These British
"The assertions in the French note alleging that these proposals were rejected by the majority of the German people are, to say the least, unsubstantiated and do not at all correspond, to the real state of affairs.
as
no
with the sole.
composed as above (U.S., Britain, France and Russia)United Press.
Delegation To Approach Nehru
Geneva, Jan. 2... World Federationists from some 47 countries, who have
THIS IS HOW SHE DID IT-Mary Lois Thornhill of Winter Haven, Fla., is shown skimming gracefully over the water at Cypress Gardens. Mary Lois won the crown of the Junior Girls World's Champion water skier at the International Water Ski Tournament, and here she demonstrates some of her winning skill.
Minister Dodges Awkward Query
London, Jan. 2.
Mr Maurice Webb, Food Minister, today side- stepped a question put to him by a school-girl who wanted to know why it was that America, with such great resources, insisted on selling food to under-developed countries at prices they could not afford to pay.
"That," Mr Webb replied to The Far East was really the Janet Lawrence of Selhurst "hot spot" in the present School, Croydon, "is a very world situation tempting question. But you
would not like me to lose. my
"How much we could do for
job, would you? I can only the settlement of the Far East tell you, you had better ad- if we could step up the rice and Thailand dress that question to Pre- yield in Burma sident Truman. I am not go- and rice and wheat in India,"
Mr Webb declared.-Reuter. ing to answer it."
Mr Webb was addressing a meeting composed mainly of school
in children assembled a "Youth Parliament" organis- ed by the Council for Educa- tion in World Citizenship.
warned. Mr Webb
Britons
the
sources expected move to reply to the Soviet note until Britain had been meeting here since Satur- against taking food supplies "too discussed it with the other day to plan a World Govern- much for granted" in the com- Commonwealth nations as well ment, are sending a delegation ing years. "At any rate, it is not difficult
the
United
to Geneva Airport to meet Mr States and
"Hunger, like peace, is indivi- for Nehru, the Indian Prime Minis- sible. There is no escape to be convinced that the pro-
France.
ter, when he passes through to any of us from hunger in will presum- The subjects posals of the Prague conference
morrow morning be raised at the
on his way world," he added. met with great sympathy among ably
con- to the Commonwealth Prime
The British had to consider broad circles of. the German ference under the heads deal- population of Western Germany, ing with British commitments Ministers' Conference in Lon-not only the supplies of meat at their butchers but also the sup- "As to the remark in regard in Europe and her policy to-
Mr Nehru's plane makes a plies of rice, maize and other to the letter of the High Com-wards the Soviet Union.
30-minute halt here, The de- basic foods for the many millions Another point of interest to legation will attempt to secure missioners addressed to the
in under-developed parts of the Chairman of the Soviet Control the whole Commonwealth in the the Indian Prime Minister's world, he said. Commission, contained in the proposals for new direct talks on holding German with Russia is whether Far Eastern subjects should be in- cluded in such discussions and, the if boat what stage,
Tour Commonwealth countries Britain, India, Pakistan and Ceylon have recognised the Peking Government of China, while the other Commonwealth Countries have
don.
support to their plan for £ World Parliament.
A World Executive and a World Judiciary to dispense world law are also included in the plan,
The delegation will include Mr Fyke Farmer, of Tennessee, Mr Iyo Ita, of N
and Madame": "Tibaldi Chiesa,
- an Italian deputy — Reuter-
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Telephone: 26611 (5 Lines). The world food problem today was very largely one of increas-ARENTHESMUTTERCALENDARIS I ing food production in these Printed and published by under developed countries, Mr William Alick Grinham for and. Webb continued,
.on behalt of South China
Morning Post Limited at 1-9- Wyndham Street. Victoris in the Colony of Hong- City of
kong.
It could only be solved by providing technical skill and capital equipment to help these nations solve their own probe lems by producing more foo: of their own