DELEGATES ARRIVE

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 21, 20 October 1943, Page 5

DELEGATES ARRIVE

Three-Power Conference In Moscow QUICK START ON TALKS LONDON, October 18. The British Foreign Secretary, Mr. Eden, the American Secretary of State, Mr. Cordell Hull, the Chief of Staff to the British Minister of Defence, General Sir Hastings Ismay, and the Assistant Un-der-Secretarv of State to the Foreign Office, Mr. William Strang, yesterday arrived in Moscow. Moscow radio announced that athe Soviet Deputy Premier, and Foreign Minister, M. Molotov, and the former Ambassador to Washington, M. Litvinov, met them at the airfield. The new United States Ambassador to' Moscow, Mr. Averell Harriman, has also arrived. ~ , ~, Mr. Hull on his. arrival said lie felt particular satisfaction in visiting the capital of a great country which was united with his own in the common cause. He was pleased to be aide to return the visit M. Molotov had made to the United States, and anticipated with great pleasure the coming conference with him and Mr. Eden. Mr. Eden said he. was very happy to come to Moscow again to participate in the conference and to be able to return M. Molotov’s visit of last ye *A' guard of honour saluted Messrs. Eden and Hull when they arrived at the. airfield at Moscow, which was decorated with the flags of Britain, America and the Soviet Union. Those present included Colonel-General Golikov, the Deputy Commisisorier for Foreign Trade; M. •Stepanov, the commander of the Moscow garrison; Major-General Sinilov, and representatives of the Commissariat Oc Defence. Also present were the British Ambassador, Sir Archibald Clark Kerr, and the American and Australian Charges d'Affaires, and members of the Canadian envoy, the United States and British Embassies. and the British military misstca. Preliminary talks began less than three hours later. The first, of the main discussions will be held this afternoon. All reports from Moscow emphasize the cordial atmosphere in which the talks are being held. Talks with Balkan Leaders.

It is revealed from Cairo that Mr. Eden spent five days in Egypt before going to Moscow. He was received by the Kings of Egypt, Greece, and Yugoslavia, and later received reports from the British Ambasadors to Greece and Yugoslavia, and also had talks with the Premiers of the two countries on several occasions.

A protocol is to be signed in London today extending the lend-lease agreement between Britain, the United States, Russia, and Canada, and providing for a substantial increase in supplies to Russia, including a number of bombers and a very large number of fighters, also copper, tin. nickel, aluminium, machine tools, hundreds of tons of wheat from Canada to meet a possible food shortage in the coming winter, and fats and tinned goods. The diplomatic correspondent of the “Evening Standard” says the protocol declares that Russia as far ns possible, in return for lend-lease, will meet the requirements of the other three partners to the agreement. Russian deliveries arc to be determined as need arises. The fact that the protocol is being signed today is regarded as an important contribution to the three-flower conference.