NEXT MOVE IS RUSSIA'S

Chronicle (Levin), 15 November 1948, Page 5

NEXT MOVE IS RUSSIA'S

(N.Z.P.A.—

-Reuter.

9 1 ■ 1 How Western Powers View Berlin Dispute 6

corvright)

Received Monday, 10.20 a.m. LONDON, Nov. 14. Britain will propose tomorrow that the' three Western Powers should meet on November 16 to discuss the N appeal made by the presldent of the United Nations General Assembly, Dr. H. V. Evatt, and the secretary-general, Mr. Trygve ,Lie, to the leaders of the Big Four Governments to settle the Berlin dispute, says Reuter's correspondent. Mr. Hector McNeil, who is expected to confer with the Foreign Secretary, Mr, Ernest Bevin, in London tomorrow, is returning to Paris to represent Mr. Bevin at such a meeting with Mr. Qeorge Marshall (United States) and M. Robert Schuman (France). It is understood that the British view, that the Berlin matter is one for the Security Council, still stands. The United States Ambassadorin Britain, Mr. Lewis Douglas, has arrived (in Paris to see Mr. Marshall, It is believed that they will discuss the Berlin question. Western diplomatic quarters still consider that no further direct negotiations on the Berlin issue can take place as long as the three parties are under the duress of the Berlin blockade. The Western Powers believe that they are not being unreasonable when they suggest that it lies only in the Kremlin's power to restart the negotiations at any time as soon as the blockade is lifted. It is under'stood that Dr. Evatt, meanwhile has sent private telegrams to Mr Attlee, Marshal Stalin, President Truman and Dr. Queuille, renforcing his and Mr. Lie's appeal. A message from Washington says that the officiai study there is now eoncentrating on a means whereby ihe fillip the appeal gave to the current Russian "peace offensive" can be lessened and Western prestige not .weakened by being put in the position of having to rebuff such a highly placed suggestion for "immediate conversations."