HARD BARGAINING

Chronicle (Levin), 11 August 1948, Page 5

HARD BARGAINING

(N.Z.P.A.-

Reuter ,

Western Envoys To Again See Molotov

Covyright)

Received Wednesday, 11 a.m. LONDON, Aug. 10. ' Further meetings will take place in Moscow this week between M. Molotov and the envoys of the Western Powers, according to Reuter's diplomatic correspondent. It is understood that the last two meetings dealt with the situation in Berlin and the Western Powers' request for the lifting of the blockhdc before beginning any negotiations on wider German and European issues. Hard bargaining is undoubtedly taking place and it may be some time before the discussions on Berlin end. A report by the British envoy, Mr. Frank Roberts, to the Foreign Secretary, Mr. Ernest Bevin, on the meeting with M. Molotov yesterday, has not apparently necessitated a meeting of the "Berlin Committee" in London, although its three members went separately for short consultations to the Foreign Office and the British member of the committee, Sir William Strang and the French Ambassador, M. Massigli, conferred The United States Ambassador, Mr. Lewis Douglas, did not join Sir William and M. Massigli in the talks. Mr. Douglas discussed ' with Mr. Bevin the overnight report from Moscow of the meeting with M. Molotov. Diplomatic quarters do not believe that the co-ordinated reaction of the Western Powers to M. Molotov's views will be sent to the Moscow envoys before tomorrow. The Associated Press' Moscow correspondent quotes the British envoy, Mr. Roberts, as saYing: "Well, we won't be news much longer now." The Russian Army newspaper, Red Star, tod'ay implied chat the Soviet stand od Gerviany remained unchanged — namely that the developmeut of proposals for working out the peace treaty and the organ-. isation of a central German Government wef'e • -absolu-tely hecessary for re-establishing •ermany's political and econvmic unity.