WIDE FIELD

Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 August 1942, Page 3

WIDE FIELD

COVERED IN MOSCOW DISCUSSIONS ACCORDING TO “NEW YORK TIMES.” SECOND & OTHER FRONTS. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) NEW YORK, August 17. The “New York Tinies,” in a leader, says: “Dlr Churchill visited Moscow in one of the great crises of the war, as lie twice visited Washington, for direct consultation with the leaders of the Allied Governments. President Roosevelt was kept fully informed of the questions discussed in Moscow, and undoubtedly participated in the decisions reached. “The decisions covered not only the defence of the Caucasus and the Middle East, but the moot question of the second front. Time alone will reveal the decisions made, but whatever they [are they can hardly be more important than this fresh evidence of a close and friendly understanding between the Soviet and the two great western democracies.” The New York “Herald Tribune,” in a leader, says: “It is difficult to imagine better news than the fact that Mr Churchill and M. Stalin reached definite decisions covering the war against Hitlerite Germany. This should end doubts that began festering when the announcement last June of an agreement regarding the second front failed to lead to action. It should end nonsensical suspicions that the delay was due to mistrust between the Governments. It should end the second front as a subject for popular clamour, parades and pressure tactics. “Now we are entitled to believe that the overall strategic whether it includes a landing in Western Europe soon or later, has been agreed upon by the men of all three nations who know most about the problem.” MILITARY DECISIONS TAKEN BY ALLIED CHIEFS. LONDON, August 17. The Paris radio on August 1 stated that Mr Churchill left London by air for Moscow. The Vichy and Rome radios on August 2 broadcast similar announcements. A. few days later the German stations announced that Mr Churchill had arrived at Moscow. The Bremen radio stated that M. Stalin would keep Mr Churchill as a hostage till the second front was opened. The Ankara radio then began giving news about Mr Churchill’s movements. The American radio stations on August 8 revealed that Mr Churchill was visiting Moscow, but nothing about it could be published in Britain. The secret was well kept in Russia, only those at the airport and at the talks and an inner ring of officials knowing that Mr Churchill was in the country. The Moscow correspondent of “The Times” said the presence of Britain’s war planners in Moscow would do much to restore complete confidence because it would be interpreted to mean that Britain’s intervention in Europe does not lie far ahead.

M. Stalin and Mr Churchill met as the chiefs of the armed forces of two mighty allies, says the “Daily Telegraph’s” Moscow correspondent. They took decisions in constant consultation with their chiefs of staff and a galaxy cf high army talent. A nation does not send its best generals thousands of miles merely to talk politics. The British delegation went to Moscow to take material military decisions. The United Press of America says the news of the Moscow war conferences has aroused speculation in the U.S.A, as to whether Britain and the United States are nearing the point of giving Russia substantially increased aid. Informed circles believe that the results of the Churchill-Stalin negotiations will implement the understanding reached last spring between President Roosevelt and M. Molotov.