INTRANSIGENT RUSSIAN ATTITUDE MAKES CHANCES OF AGREEMENT REMOTE

Chronicle (Levin), 1 July 1947, Page 5

INTRANSIGENT RUSSIAN ATTITUDE MAKES CHANCES OF AGREEMENT REMOTE

■ Press Assn

Bv Telegraph

.-Copyright

Received Tuesday, 11.30 a.m. PARIS, June 30. The third session of the conference of the Big Three Foreign Ministers ended tonight. Mr. Bevin looked thoughtful. and appeare.d fatigued when he arrived at tlie French V Foreign Office for the meeting, • Mr. William Ridsd^ie, head of the British Foreign Office Press Department, accompanied Mr. Bevin for the first time since the conference began. This is regarded as an indication that the secrecy blackout might be lifted tonight. M. Molotov looked characteristically serious. He was accompanied by a party of seven.

The Ministers meet again tomorrow afternoon. Reuter's correspondent says it-is reliably learned that the conference is expected to end tomprrow. A British spokesman said the British delegation had decided to lift the news blackout because it considered that it had already been effectively femoved. The correspondent adds that it is learned that Mr. Bevin today outlined the British proposals for the machinery, which would operate under Mr. Marshall's plan. M. Molotov countered with the Russian proposals, which did not differ substantially from the views which the Russian delegation expressed yesterday and on Saturday. The responsible afternaon newspuper, Le Monde, which frequently reflects French Foreign Office views, said: "Perhaps the Russian objective is to throw down the wliole Marshall plan. The Russians' intransigent attitude can oniy precipitate a split in Europe, which the Marshall proposals sought to avoid." Reuter says the general convictiun among delegates tonight was that the conference was over, and 1 liat for the present the chances of agreeing on' an economic plan under British, French and Russian lt adership had eluded the Foreign Ministers. The British plan, which Mr. Bevin outlined, provided that steering committees should be established to draft plans for European reconstruction for the next four years. It also advocated ad hoc committees for the study of coal, steel, food and transport, which should report on August 15. All countries in Europe except Spain would be cpnsulied, but the membership of the committees would be kept small. The membership of the steering committee, for example, woitld be ljmited to Britain, France, Russia and not more than four other countries.