MR CHURCHILL’S MOSCOW VISIT

Southland Times, Issue 24827, 20 August 1942, Page 5

MR CHURCHILL’S MOSCOW VISIT

WELCOME BY UNITED NATIONS LONDON, August 18. Comment and speculation on the Churchill-Stalin talks in Moscow are given prominence in the newspapers throughout the world today. These comments and assumptions are as varied as the tongues in which they have been spoken and written.. The newspapers of the United Nations hail the conversations as a means of strengthening and co-ordinating the war effort. American newspapers speculate whether the opening of a second front or the strengthening of the Caucasus front held first in the military discussions. The neutral Swiss radio declares that Mr Churchill’s journey proves that political and military relations between Britain and Russia have been tightened and strengthened. The Axis radio is cynical. The Japanese declare that Mr Churchill is again tiding over a critical situation in his own country at the expense of Britain’s allies. A writer in The Daily Telegraph comments: “There can be no doubt that the plans made for strengthening the united effort of the great alliance of freedom will potently affect its development” The Daily Telegraph further expresses the general opinion by saying: “We may well be content and Nazism most uncomfortable with the knowledge that the three first Powers in the world are in complete agreement on the general principles of grand strategy for the European field of war. ’ The Manchester Guardian says: “The hard course of the war in the last months has been proof of the interdependence of the Allies. The east cannot win without the west nor the west without the east. Now, for the first time, east and west correlate their operations.” The Soviet Press presents the news of Mr Churchill’s visit as of great historical significance, reports The Times Stockholm correspondent. The newspapers interpret the joint announcement as an indication that the war is entering a new phase in which the Allies will engage their strength to the utmost capacity against the enemy in Europe. The Moscow radio, broadcasting to France, said: “The Moscow conference raises the hopes of all oppressed peoples. Now is the moment to strike against the invaders in common strategy with all resources pooled. The historic discussions at the Moscow conference give a new direction to the Allied war strategy. France, arise and, fight for liberty.” The Daily Express, in a leader, says: Why is the Russian Press so sure the Moscow talks have brought the hour of an Allied victory nearer? They are not likely to regard diplomatic talks as a substitute for victories in the field. There are surer grounds for confidence. Earlier conferences all dealt with defence, but this conference was avowedly military—it was about attack.