Effort to Have Settling Of Differences

Chronicle (Levin), 12 May 1948, Page 5

Effort to Have Settling Of Differences

(N.Z.P.A.-

-Reuter,

Copyright)

Received Tnesday, 7 p.m. LONDON, May 11. Moscow radio early this morning' annoimced that on May 4 the X . nited States Ambassador, General Bedell Smith, handed Mr. Molotov a Xote 011 Soviet -Ameriean relations. The Xote began by declaring that the European Union of Xations and United States "alarmed at the tendeneies of Soviet poliey, had united for nmtual dei'enee and the United States Was" fully determined to play its part in these joint measures aimed at rehabilitation and sel I'-defenee. " The Xote said the eoncern and resolution of the Ameriean people had inereased owing to Soviet liostility to the European rehabilitation programme. It pointed out that this programme, in the lTnited States' view, represented merely a measnre for rendering Ameriean aid for rehabilitation 011 a joint basis, without threats against anyone. The Xote said the situation, which had arisen out of the aetions oi' the Soviet Government or of political groups under its coiitrol, and the reaetion to these aetions by other eountries, includiilg the Tniied States, were undoubtedly, of a serious eharacter and the United States wished to outline eertain points which, in its opinion, were of great importance, so that there would be 110 misunderstanding.

Firstly, the policy of the United States Government in inter-nation affairs, enjoyed the npport of tne majority of Ameriean people and that policy would continue to be pursued energetically in futnre. Internal political or economic considerations would have 110 influence at all on this policy. , The present international situation involved questions of vital importance to the ecurity of the United States and to universal peace. Secondly, the United States entertains no hostile or aggressive intentions toward the Soviet Union. The United States' policy is so worked out that it cannot liave an unfavourable influence on Soviet interests if the Soviet strives to live in peace with other neighbours and refrains from attempts to render direc't or indirect influence on the aft'airs of others. Thirdly, in point of fact many elements in United States' foreign policy which at present evoke such sharp objections in the Soviet press, wouia never have arisen if there had been 110 necessity for United States to render aid to other eountries for the purpose of protecting their political integrity from attempts on the part of Communist minorities to capture power and establish regimes subordinated tu foreign Interests. If these attempts cease then the necessity for eertain manifestations in United States' loreign policy, which evidently cause dissatisfaction in Moscow, will be eliminated. Tlie present stale of Aineriean-Soviet relations was a source of serious disappointinenl to the Ameriean peopiw and tlie Govemiuent. . " L'p to now we luiven't in any ' way relinquished the h>)pe of lindiug a path for establi.sliing good aud rational relations between our two eountries togetiier witli a radieal lessening of. the tense atnio.-phere which, at the present time, is everywhere liaving sueh an unfavoura'de etl'eet on international relations." The Xote ended: ' *' As for the United States the door always femains open for a diseussion and'settlement of our tliflforenee.s. M.v Government sincereiy 'lnq.es the Soviet Government will not ilisregard the attitude of Ihe United

• ' 1 ci 1 \ o u«n JhJirui an \j Lt iimcu 1 1' they do not do this, thev will not meet on our part any laek of readiness or desire to niake our eontribution towards the sta'oilisation of world eonditions, which will be fully eompatiblc with the seeurity if the Soviet people." MR. MOLOTOV REPLIES. Mr. Molotov, on May 9, received General Bedell Smith and told him that the Soviet Government adopted a positive attitude towards United States' wishes to improve their relations and agreed with the proposal to hegin a diseussion for the settlement of the differences existing between them. At the same time Mr. Molotov said tne Soviet considered it necessary to state it could not agree that the cause of the present unsatisfactory state of SovietAmerican relations and the strain in the international situation, was the Soviet 's policy in Eastern Europe and the increase of the Soviet 's influence. The Soviet Government wished it put 011 record that its relations with neighbouring and other European eountries had actually considerahly improv-

bllC; W ctJ. . Mr. Molotov said the United States was ;i!m) pursuing a policy to strengtlicn its relations with neighbouring- eouutries. for instance, with Canada, Mexicu nnd other Ameriean eountries, which was understandable. "It is equallv understandable that the Soviet is aiso pursuing a poliey of st rengthening its relations with neighbouring and other European eountries and it will continue in future to pursue a policy or strengthening relations with these eountries. ' ' Mr. Molotov said the serious de'nio crat'e ehiinges which had oeeurred in eountries of Eastern Europe sine.e the war w.we a measure of defenee against Ihe threat of a uew war and for that reason had ereaXed favourable eonrulions for friendlv relatons between those contries and the Soviet. Mr. Molotov said it- was .totaily incorreet to say that Soviet interferenee had brouglit those demoeratic changes whieh were the natural result of ihe victory of demoeratic forees over Xa/.isin and Fascism/and was regarded li.v Eastern European peoples as a guarantee against threats of a new war. It was the internal affair of overy (State to bring about demoeratic changes, but United States evidently held a different view hecause it haa permitted interferenee in the intertial affairs of other States, notably m Oreeee. If the European rehabilitation prbgramme had been put on a basis of respect for the national rights and povereignty of the States, there would have been no ea-use for the Soviat to adopt x ney*tiTe attifciKU

the programme, the more so since the Soviet was one of the: eountries whieh ecouomically suffered most durmg the war and was therefore extre'meiy interested in the development of postwar international economic cooperation. United States Blamed. The Soviet also considered it necessary to state that the present tension in the , international situation was eneouraged primarilv by the action of the United States in, devolping a netwoi'K of military, naval, and air bases m all parts of the globe. Sueh measures eould not be explained by the interests of self-defence. The .Soviet, on the other hand, was pursuing a consistenx peace policy towards the United States, was creating no militarv bases and threatening nobody. Mr. Molotov also pointed out that whereas mutual assistance treati.es between the -Soviet and -Eastern European eountries aimed at preventing a new aggression by Gennany aua whare not directed against any Allie-d .State, the military alliance whieh had been formed by the five Western i'owers not only had Germanv in niind, but also to an equal degrec could be directed against all .States which were allies in the war. Moreover, the Western alliance becamo possible only because it was sponsored by the United States. Clearly, therefore, it could not be regardecl as •&. treaty of self-defence. That unfriendlv policy of the Uniteu States towards the Soviet was also felt in the sph-ere of Boviet-Atnerican trade. There was di.se riniination against Russians with the result that the ex- « port of Ameriean goods .to Russia, for which the Soviet had paid, was obRtructed. The intolerable eharacter of sueh a situation was perfectlv cleai. JVLr. Molotov 's statement endcd by emphasing that the Soviev always pursued a policy of peace and cooperation toiVards the Uniteo. .States. Re pressed his Government 'a hope tuai it would now be pckssible to find the means of removing the existing differences and establishing between the two eountries, good relations corresponding both to the interests of theif peoples and to the st-rengthening oi world peace.