STALIN AGREED TO 25-YEAR TREATY

Chronicle (Levin), 30 May 1946, Page 5

STALIN AGREED TO 25-YEAR TREATY

MR. RYRNES REPLIES TO MR. | MOLOTOY l 1 Rec-eived Wednesdav, 7.25 p.m. WASHINGTON, -May 28. j Xlr. Byrnes, replying to Mr. Molotov, denied the existence of a Britisli- j Ameriean bloc which Mr. ^lolotov said | waged ofl'ensive against Russia at Paris. ! He said Mr. Molotov must have been misquoted when he was reported to have stated that Marshal Stalin had hui promised support of the Ameriean proposal for a 25-year treaty to keep Germany disarmed. If lie had 1101 been misquoted tlien there must be some lnisuiiderstaiiding. ! Air. Byrnes said that at Aloscow on Deeember 24, 1945, Alarshal Stalin was asked whether the Soviet w'ould eonsider a treaty among the four principal powers for the (lemilitarisation ot Germany, a good thing. Marshal -stahn hail stated unequivocally that if Air. Bvrues formally made the pro,posal ne wouhl 'snpport it. Air. Bvrues sent the drat't of a treaty to Atoseow on February 14, 194(5, with a Iette.r pointiitg out that Marshal Stalin had agreed to it m priuciple. This statement had. not been refuted. Mr. Molotov in i'aris had not denied Ararshal Stalin 's adoption of the proposal in ]irincrple. Air. Byrnes added that because Air. Molotov had urged the immediate disarniament of Germany shouid lirst be considered, he had asked the Ameriean military representative, General Clav, to raise with the Allied ('ouncil at Berlin, the (;ues- ; tion of appoinfing deputies to report on the progress of disarniament, ineluding the operation of nrms plants 111 ull xones of Germany. Britain and France had agreed to this proposal but Russia refused, contending that the investigation shouid not im-lude war plants.