U.S. TO STAND FIRM

Chronicle (Levin), 19 August 1946, Page 5

U.S. TO STAND FIRM

DARDANELLES ISSUE CRITICAE » - *> . .* * ' \ ' • ? ) > • ;* Beeeive^U^uaday, 7 • ' " WASSLCX^TOX, August 17. . Mr. Dean Acheson, with evident "Pf'FsideMJal. .ppprbval, hhs iirdicated tliat the ITiited States is determined to stand firm against auy Russian military expansion into the Dardanelles. American policv on tliis issue, which the Associated Press says high otiicials regard as oue of the most critical international affairs, was reviewed seeretly at a White House conference on August .13, AI r. Acheson told the press he coukl not see why the proposals Mr. Byrnes initially advanced last September for modifying the control of the Dardanelles, should be changed. The maiu point in Mr. Byrnes' proposals was that Itussian ships should be allowed to travel through the Straits at all times, leaving tlie sovereignty of the territory on either side in complete possession of Turkey and keep>ing the legal status of the waterway under intfernational t reaty. Asked whether the United States desires to be a party to the Montreux T reaty, Mr. Acheson said willingness to join in the Monteux provisions and modifying them, was expressed by the American representatives at Potsdam. The Associated Press comments that tliis probably means that if Turkey calls a conference of the Montreux powers to c.onsider revising the treaty, United States will accept the invitatiou, thereby assuming direct respousibility for determining the future status of the waterway.