West Proposes Next Week As Time

Chronicle (Levin), 4 May 1949, Page 5

West Proposes Next Week As Time

(N.Z.P.A.-

-Reuter,

Progress Of The Talks With Russia

, Coyyright )

Received Wednesday, 11 a.m. LONJDON, MAY 3. The Foreign Office in London today received two important reporls from the United iStates on the progress of tht discussions 011 tne hfting of the Berlin blockade and on tht hoidmg of a meetme- of the Council of Foreiern Ministers

The first came from the British Amuassaaor in Wasifington, Sir Oliver Franks, who has had a long talk on tne Benin situation witli ihe United States Secretary of State, Mr. Dean Acheson. It is believed ihat they deait with the bi oad outiines of po Jcy involved in J lht calling olf the blockade andi cuunrjr-biockade measures. The second report came from the British Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs , Sir Alexander C'aao: an, who, with the United States Ambassador at Large, Dr, Phiiip Jessup, and M. Jean Chauvel iFrance), comprise the Western Powers' liaison committee in the negotiations with Mr. Jacob Mafik, ihe Soviet representalive. The Western Powers have now concerted tlieir views on the possiole time-table and believe that •iie Council of Foreign Ministers -hGuid meet in Paris in three weeks' time and that the Berlin blockade hould be raised next week. They think this would give the Big Foui 1ime to discuss the outstanding German problems before the Western German Governm&nt is formed and the Federal Republic of Gerineny created in July. Meanwhile. in New York, Dr. Jessup, M. Chauvel and Sir Alexander Cadogan are waiting a reply from Mr. Malik to their invitation i t ) a four Power meeting to discuss ' *he issue. j In Berlin, the American-licensed evening newspaper, Der Abend, today said that "a well-informed So- | vir-t source" had stated that "a surnr'sing concession" would be made I

by Mr. Vyshinsky at the proposea meeting of the Big Four Foreign Ministers. The newspaper added: "It is expected at Russian headquarters in Berlin that the Soviet representatives at the United Nations wil'l rel turn to Moscow to make a report to the Kremlin on May 22, and that he Foreign Ministers will mee. iboirt June 1.