GOLD WAR

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 70, Issue 105, 16 February 1950, Page 5

GOLD WAR

MR. CHURCHILL’S SUGGESTION REJECTION BY AMERICA PREDICTED (N.Z.P.A.—Copyright) > LONDON, Feb. 15. “Mr Churchill’s suggestion (made in an election speech at Edinburgh last night) for another meeting between Mr Stalin and British and American leaders to end the cold war is certain to be quickly rejected by the Truman Administration,” says Reuter’s Washington correspondent. “President Truman and the Secretary of State (Mr Dean Achesen) last week both rejected similar proposals after they had been made in the United States Congress, and after it had been freely predicted in the American press that Mr Churchill would make such a proposal in the election campaign, Mr John Hickerson, an Assist-ant-Secretary of State, possibly with fore-knowledge of Mr ChurchilT’s speech, made it clear that the United States was willing to discuss international control of atomic energy with the Soviet Union, but within the United Nations.

“Mr Acheson last week theoretically held out the possibility of such attempts as Mr Churchill suggested, but only after the Western Allies had reached a strength which the Russians could realistically recognise as an existing fact in an agreement. “Observers in Washington regard the American decision to go ahead with the production of the hydrogen bomb as one of the most vital steps taken to implement Mr Acheson’s policy of ‘agreement through strength.’ “Officials have said frequently that it has been very much more difficult to reach agreement, or even to discuss the possibility of reaching agreement, with the Russians since the Russians developed the atomic bomb. These officials apparently hope that the Soviet Union will be more willing to co operate realistically in a new agreement as soon, as the United Slates creates a new state of affairs by adding the hydrogen bomb to its armoury.” The correspondent adds: "Mr Churchill’s proposals, in view of these circumstances, may well embarrass the Administration, since it will revive Congressional pleas for a settlement with, or even appeasement of, the Soviet Union. Mr Truman’s and ,Mr Acheson’s statements last week obviously were intended to prevent popular and political support of any proposal to end the armament race. “Such a development would force ♦.he hand of the Administration, which is at present reviewing the whole field of the United States policy, particularly in Asia. “In spite of Mr Acheson’s call for calm nerves, there have been many signs of uneasiness in the last few days. They stem from three basic fears: —

“(1) The fear that the Soviet-Ameri-can armaments race must end, as all other armament races have ended, in war.

“(2) The fear that Russia, largely as a result of the work of spies, soon will have the hydrogen bomb itself. “(3) The fear that the United States is exceptionally vulnerable to such an attack because of its present unpreparedness and concentration of big cities.

‘ “In these circumstances almost any proposal to end the armaments race is assured of sensational front-page treatment in the press, whether it comes from Mr Churchill, Professor Einstein, or any other widely known world figure.”

IN HANDS OF UNO MR ATTLEE’S STATEMENT (Rec. 9.10 a.m.) LONDON, Feb. 15. The Prime Minister, Mr Attlee, said at Lincoln to-day that Mr Churchill’s proposal for discussions with Russia on atom control was “a matter in the hands of the United Natiofls.” He added: “It is all a very difficult subject, and I cannot make any further pronouncement on it until I have talked the matter over with the- Foreign Secretary. Whether there will be any use making another approach is a matter for consideration. I do not rule out the suggestion which lias been made- by Mr Churchill, but at resent it rests with the United Nations.” He added that he took action almost as soon as he became Prime Minister. “I went across and saw the Americans and Canadians on it, and thereafter we have been unceasingly endeavouring to bring the whole thing under the control of the. United Nations.” The Foreign Secretary, Mr Ernest Bevin, told constituents at East Woolwich, Londou, that in his job he was going to try no stunts of any kind. He was going straight -through with “steady and thorough methods of negotiation.” He added: "I am going to continue building up agreements between those who will agree, keeping my eye on the necessities of others and doing what I think' is right at the moment.”