1950-12-21 — Page 5

THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH,

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1950.

INCREASE IN US AID TO

Military Help And A Dollar Loan

•

Washington, Dec. 20.

United States Ambassador to Iran Henry Grady conferred with President Truman on Wednesday and afterwards said the President will personally direct a speed-up in United States economic and military assistance for Iran.

Mr Grady said this help would be in the form of a $25,000,000 loan from the Export and Import Bank and some military aid under the general foreign assistance bill. The amount of the latter was not a public figure, but last year amounted to $12,000,000.

FRONTIER

POSTS ON

THE ALERT

Teheran, Dec. 20. All gala celebrations and parties, except the recep- tion prepared for the wedding of the Shah of Persia next week, have been cancelled in view of the international situation, a Government spokesman stated today.

The Prime Minister said that frontier posts had been alerted. Although Persia did not wish to take part in any war, she would defend her frontiers if attacked. The world was nearer war than ever, he said, and he appealed for unity.

The Shah, Mohammed-Reza Pahlevi, is to marry Miss Soraya

Mr Grady said action on both these projects had been rather slow, and the main purpose of his trip to Washington was to speed up activity.

He would return on Thursday to his post, satisfied that he had obtained

this

point.

assurances. "on

He added, economic assistance for Iran is being negotiated with the International Bank and he was hopeful of some action from the Bank.

He pointed out this is not an. agency of the United States Government and that therefore Washington officials alone could not decide what the Bank will do. Other assistance was being granted under the "Point Four" programme. This form of aid is farther along in Iran than in any other country.

FRIENDLY TO WEST

The Ambassador discounted recent reports of a pro-Soviet swing in Iran, saying while there might be a current swing. of the pendulum in that direc tion, the people of Iran, from the Shah down, are friendly to the West.

TO IRAN

Miss. Thailand for the year 2493 in the Buddhist Calendar (1950 to you) was elected after a keen competition in Bangkok recently. Shown in centre after being crowned is Miss En-boone, with the four runners-up.

Egyptian

Version

Premier's US Civil Defence

Of Talks

With

Britain

Cairo, Dec. 20.

an

The Egyptian Prime Minister, Nahas Pasha, basically today summed up the progress in the current He said: "Of course, they have Anglo-Egyptian political talks in London as opposition, but the people of the agreement reached on broad principles and con- country as a whole are definitely tinuing negotiations on details and the application democratic countries." The fact of these principles. that

Esfandiari, daughter of a Persian sympathetic with the dignitary and a German mother, on Dec, 27. But the wedding may have to be postponed.

Western

Iran borders on Russia makes it necessary to adopt a

a

of

In an interview with Reuters! This, he stated, could best be policy of neutrality and more he said that the talks-concern- achieved

supply self-defence. FINANCIAL ANGLE

The bride-to-be, who has just recovered from a typhoid attack, or was said to be ill again today with a high temperature.

The Shah has ordered all funds for wedding gifts from the Persian people to be deposited in a special account opened in the Persian National Bank. Reuter

$20,000 Million Defence Bill

Washington, Dec. 20. A Defence Appropriation Bill carrying more than $20,000 million to speed up inobilisation efforts was sent to

less friendliness, but this ed with the evacuation of materials for

does not mean democratic countries.

enmity for

British troops and the political future of the Sudan-between his Foreign Minister, Salah El Din Bey, and the British Foreign Secretary, Mr Ernest Bevin, had

He

$

Any recent tendency toward with the friendlier relations Soviet Union might be due to the Moscow Government taking a more conciliatory attitude to-esulted in a real rapproche ward Iran recently. He cited ment of the viewpoints between the trade pact by which Russia the two Governments. undertook to buy some surplus from agricultural products northern Iran and also set up a boundary commission to deal with some points where the Soviet Union bulges into Iran.

The Ambassador expected the formal signing of the $25,000,000 Export and Import Bank credit for Iran within a few days. He

FLEET ARRIVES

Plan Approved

Washington, Dec. 20.

The House of Repre- sentatives today approved a master plan for civil de- fence designed to prepare America to deal with the dangers and problems of atomic attack. The plan goes next to the Senate.

The legislation Would establish a Federal civil defence administration to direct a preparedness pro- gramm⇓ expected to cost 3,100,000,000 over three-year period.

During debate in the House references were made to the possibility of Russia bombing American industrial cities in the event of war-Reuter.

Commenting on the Anglo-DEATH OF

Egyptian financial

London, Nahas Pasha said that he had instructed the Egyptian delegates to press for the re- payment of Egypt's £300 million sterling balances in gold, goods. and petroleum products, which I would otherwise have to be paid

for in dollars.

the

that the was convinced present conversations were in- spired by sincere goodwill on He admitted that a consider-

able gap still separated both sides and that they were on the right road to a settlement negotiators but hoped that with good will and understanding acceptable to both parties.

this could be successfully har- rowed down.

The Prime Minister declined

applications referred to

Informed diplomatic

sources

MALTESE

PREMIER

Valetta, Malta, Dec. 20. An emergency meeting of the Maltese Cabinet was called to- day after the death of the 65- year-old Prime Minister, Dr Enrico Mizzi.

Later Dr George Olivier,

а

of

the Senate expects to be back in Teheran to disclose what the details or here continue to canvas some Cabinet Minister, called on the today by its Appropriations on Dec. 23, flying by way of the the

were or whether they involved formula for linking up Egypt, Governor, Sir Gerald Creasy, Netherlands-United Press. Committee.

or members of the an international as opposed to a

Arab and it was considered likely bilateral formula for approach-League, with the defence plans that he would succeed Dr Mizzi.

Treaty

Dr Olivier is Minister, ing the security problem repre- of the North Atlantic sented by the defence of Egypt. Powers as the most promising Works, Reconstruction and Edu-

removing the cation. Nahas Pasha repeatedly em

deadlock on phasised his conviction that the

Crowds of people, including troops in members of the Legislative As Egyptian people must be con- vinced that they

sembly, paid their last respects. were being

Minister, is today to the Prime assisted in security of their own defence as opposed to the idea

co-whose body lay in state being merely that they were used as a convenient part of the Idefence of others.

The Senate group added more than $2,000 million to the funds voted by the House of Repre- sentatives after appeals by Pre- sident Truman and Defence

Naples, Dec. 20. leaders for additional steps to

'The United States cruiser strengthen the armed forces.

News with Newport largest The

was increase

destroyers, two minelayers and $1,834,911,000 for stockpiling of two submarines of the Mediter 'strategic and vital materials for

ranean Fleet arrived here today the preparedness programme.-to spend Christmas and the New Reuter.

Year:-Reuter.

NANCY

seven

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COME

formula for Anglo-Egyptian the role of British the défence of Egypt.

Egypt, they point out, ready to give assurances of operation with Britain and her Allies in the event of a war. -Reuter..

REPORT

By Ernie Bushmiller

Dr Mizzi, who died early this morning, had been working in bed until last night. Reuter

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