1951-01-11 — Page 8

THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH, THURSDAY, JANUARY 11, 1951.

COMMONWEALTH

AGREEMENT

Peace Talks With Russia Should Be Continued

But Guarantee Of Soviet

Sincerity Required

London, Jan. 10.

The Commonwelath Prime Ministers agreed today that the Big Three Western powers should continue to seek peace talks with Russia providing there was a guarantee that such talks would not be a waste of time.

Conference sources said the Ministers also concurred with the Atlan- tic Pact nations' decisions on rearma ment and that any "approach to peace should be made through strength."

All the Ministers agreed that four-power talks should take place if the Western powers could get reasonable hopes of havng proper talks. They all agreed that such talks should not be held under duress or threats and that there must be preliminary preparations to guarantee that they would not be wasting their time.

A communique issued after European questions again -be- fore it closes, probably on Friday.

and supply also be con-

en raw materials problems would sidered and ways and means of fitting the needs wealth

of Common- countries outside the Atlantic Pact into the frame- work of the organisation would be studied.

The Ministers were said to the afternoon session said: "At

have agreed already on what their meeting this morning the

was called the "highest peace- Prime Ministers considered sup-

THE FAR EAST

time strategy" of marshalling ply problems. Consumers and After European discussions, all available resources and "ar- producers of Commonwealth the conference returned ranging for their wise distri- countries are virtually all af- briefly to Far Eastern prob-bution," 'fected by the current shortages lems.

“Today's conference will in raw materials and other sup- A source said, "The Ministers actually start at an advanced plies and services. The Prime all had been in touch with their point because all the premiers Ministers recognised. the need delegates at the United Nations were in constant consultation for international arrangements and spent the last half-hour of on this subject before they came to deal with these questions and the conference in a check-up to London," said a source also agreed that there should on the latest developments.carlier,

be continuous consultation be- Recognition of Communist Supplies of wool, tin, rubber tween the Commonwealth coun-China and the latest develop- and wheat, the bulk of which tries on the subject. At their

ments in Korea were

from briefly came

Commonwealth meeting this afternoon, at which discussed, particularly in

countries outside the. Atlantic the United Kingdom. Chiefs of Staff were present, the Primelation to policies to be followed Ministers discussed the Euro-

by the Commonwealth countries in the United Nations." pean situation."

re

treaty, were reported to be the main subjects for debate.

KASHMIR TALKS Meanwhile, Pakistani officials talks among all the Prime Ministers were held last night on the Kashmir dispute between India and Pakistan,

Conference sources said the . Sources said there had been Commonwealth Ministers "re-no informal talks on the Kash-confirmed that informal cognised the gravity and urgency of the scarcity of raw materials in the world."

mir problem during the day,

"However, ali Ministers are attending a reception to be given "There was agreement

Mr on

Attlee at 10 Downing the need for some interrational Street tonight and this might arrangement to tackle the prob- well develop later into another his efforts lem not only of shortages but informal get-together about also of increasing production. Kashmir," It was recognised some sort of

The Ministers were said to

Six Owen Dixon's reports on at mediation were taken as the base for the talks and informal sources said, "The whole crux of the situation now

the question of demilitarisation could be made malleable."

international organisation must have left themselves free on was whether India's rigidity on. be set up, including groups with Thursday to discuss a number at least one Commonwealth of subjects they have dis- country in the group concerned | eussed before but which still with that country's particular require further study. products."

It was understood the dis- They said such an arrange-cussions would be mainly about ment possibly would

entail latest advices from Lake Suc- establishment of allocations and cess and the formulation of an price controls and woulld in- "intermediate plan" to effect a clude both producers and con- cease-fire in Korea, sumers of not only vital strategic materials but also scarce capital goods.

BEVIN PLAN

to

Princess d'Anjou-Durassow, a descendant of the dynasty of Capets whose ancestors reigned over Hungary, Naples and Lithuania, has inherited a million dollars, bequeathed to her by an American millionaire, Mr Ross. The Princess, who is suffering from a serious heart disease has been warned to be prepared for death at any moment, heard from a friend that Mr Ross was going blind and that doctors advised a cornea operation. She wrote to him, offering her own eyes, in return for assistance for the education of her son. He died before the operation could take place but left her $1,000,000. (London Express Service.)

FACT NOT TO BE

IGNORED

Conference sources also said Australia, New Zealand and South Africa all showed readi for defence of the Middle East ness to make troops available but the debatable question was whether such forces could be made available before "D-Day". This presents a tricky problem, Conference sources were cau-particularly with regard tious in their comment of the equipment and supplies. How-

London, Jan. 10. Secretary's "working ever, the Prime Ministers were Foreign

Mr Louis St. Laurent, the Paper" presenting a six-point on common ground in their Prime Minister of Canada, in a programme for a settlement in importance and it appears prob- said that the free world dared appraisal of the Middle East's broadcast from London tonight, Korea,

"This should not be taken as talks dealing specifically with Soviet Union was armed to the able now there will be defence an indication of decided policy. the Middle East at a later date.!

not ignore the fact that A working paper is never a pro-United Press.

teeth, conference sourcesposal and there is no intention pointed out that only two of to tell other governments what the Commonwealth countries they should do," commented he Canada

Britain-were sources, signatories of the Atlantic Pact

They said discussions on raw materials were carried on in the assumption that the United States would be ready to co- operate in such an urgently necessary arrangement.

VITAL AREA

The

and

The Foreign Secretary, Mr. so this afternoon's discussions Ernest Bevin, told the Ministers centred largely on their com-admitted to the United Nations that Communist China should be mitments in Europe.

to bring about a cease-fire in Korea

and solution of Far Eastern problems. Mr. Bevin's working paper, which submitted to the conference

on Monday, outlined six points:

cf

Increase In

Philippines'

One source reported, "Every- body was in agreement that Western Europe was a vital area for the world and for the Commonwealth. The Far East was recognised as an immediate danger point but Europe as the really vital

for area

world security. There was general endorsement of democratic policies in Western Europe. The

3. Establishment of a secur- Army general approach was that it was

essential for the Westernity zone in Korea. democracies to be strong to get peace but at the same time

cautious of being scared into precipitate action."

The Ministers agreed that the Western powers should continuo to show readiness to talk peace with Russia, but not under threats,

Forces

the

He said: "We are

not pre- pared to surrender our free- doms for the kind of peace they have behind the Iron Curtain."

He thought the North Atlan- tic Alliance was

"a second best," organised because the United Nations had not supplied "the sense of security we hoped to achieve."

But it was more encouraging to find that by its actions in Korea the United Nations had "restored some of the hopes we held for that. organisation at its birth."

im-

Manila, Jan. .10. 1. Recognition and admission Members of the Senate's

Communist China to

the powerful "democratic United Nations.

group" in caucus decided to support the 2. Negotiations to bring about projected 31,000,000 pesos ap-

Mr. St. Laurent re-emphasised a cease-fire in, Korea,

propriation for increasing the his conception of the

forces by 10 battalion portance of Asian participation combat teams of about 13,000 in the Commonwealth of Na- 4. Thereafter a United Nations men, which has been debated tions. The accession of India, Commission to be set up to handle subsequent problems.

5. Gradual withdrawal of all United Nations and Chinese Communist forces from Korea.

6. Free and impartial plebiscite regarding unification of Korea.

in

in the Scnate for the past week. Pakistan and Ceylon to the The Senate group indicated, Commonwealth would be the however, that it would reject greatest event in Commonwealth an amendment to the bill pro-history, "if we succeed viding for an additional outlay making the Commonwealth a of 4,500,000 pesos for the pro-genuine bridge of understanding posed establishment of a small between East and West." A source said, "It would be arms manufacturing plant under All the world needed the German

safe to say British policy in the the supervision of the Depart- rearmament WAS

"mutual respect and under- discussed in general terms in Far East today greatly depends ment of National Defence standing we are striving to the future of Germany but on what happens in Korea. Plans for boosting

with the Common- Army maintain there was no suggestion that Neither the British Government strength

were framed some wealth." such policy should be deferred nor any Commonwealth govern- weeks ago following worsening Mr St. Laurent concluded: pending possible peace talks ment knows what the policy of the crisis

Commonwealth in the Far East "The would be if the Communists and bold

today forays by Huk dis-points the way to the ultimate Neither Britain's nor Canada's persist in their drive to force sidents, which determined the goal in which peace and future commitments in Europe, the United Nations into the sea." Defence Department to hunt brotherhood will be the ideals were discussed, but the con- Conference sources said the down the rebels with renewed of men and nations every

might return to economie effects of rearmament | vigour-United Press,

with Russia.

ference

where."--Reuter.

£7,000 Offered For Terrorists

Singapore, Jan. 10.

Prices.

for "dead or alive" terrorists, ranging from STS60,000 (about £7,000) for the Secretary- General of the Malayan Communist Party Execu- tive to ST$2,000 for or- dinary Party members have been proclaimed by the Malayan Federal Government.

Alrcraft have dropped leaflets announcing these prices in 277 areas Malaya.-Reuter,

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BIRTHS

GRAHAM - To Patricia, wife of Gerald Graham, at Kowloon Hospital, a son-Keith.

Printed and published by William Alick Grinham for and. on behalf of South China Morning Post Limited at 1-3 Victoria in the Colony of Hong- Wyndham Street, City of

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