JAPANESE TREATY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26631, 29 November 1947, Page 7

JAPANESE TREATY

NEW MOVE BY RUSSIA SPECIAL SESSION PROPOSED FOREIGN MINISTERS’ COUNCIL Rec. 11.45 p.m. LONDON. Nov. 28. Russia proposes to call in January a special session of the Council of Foreign Ministers to discuss the preparation of the Japanese peace treaty, reports Moscow radio. The Russian proposal is contained in the reply by Mr Molotov to a Chinese Government Note dated November 17. The session would be held in China if the Chinese Government deems this desirable. Mr Molotov's reply said that China, the United States, Britain and Russia would take part in ' the conference. Ho made the proposal for the sake of the earliest restoration of peace in the Far East and of affording to Japan and her people the corresponding conditions of peaceful development. The radio added that the proposal had also been made to the United States and Britain. The Associated Press correspondent in Washington says that Russia’s proi posal faces ■ a chill reception in the ' United States. Diplomatic authorities view it as the revival of the Russian contention that the major Powers should dictate the Pacific settlement, as well as the German peace treaty. The United States rejected this idea in September after Russia refused to participate in the American-sponsored move to turn over arrangements for a Pacific peace conference to representatives of the 11 nations which took part in the war with Japan. The preliminary talks had been bogged down for weeks because of Russia’s attitude and objections raised by China. The Chinese Government proposed this month that all 11 nations make decisions in drafting the treaty by a majority vote, with the provision that the big Powers retain full veto rights. Other Pacific Allies have accepted the United States proposal that decisions shall be taken by the two-thirds vote.