Pacific News-Review

Notes And Comment On

International Affairs

From Jan. 18 To Feb. 10

Jan. 18: Certain members of the US Senate have banded together to fight any move to have international control or supervision over enemy islands in the Pacific which were captured by the Americans during the war, and whose continued fortification is considered essen tial to American security needs.

Jan. 20: The Persian delegation to UNO (which is now meeting in London) has decided to bring Persia’s dispute with Russia to the notice of the Security Council. Persia is demanding a cessa tion of alleged Russian support for the autonomy movement in the northern pro vinces of Persia and the removal from the country of Russian and British garri sons. The settlement of this dispute will be UNO’s first test.

Jan 20: The British Ambassador to Russia. Sir Archibald Clark Kerr, who was in London attending the UNO Conference, is on his wav to Batavia as a special ambassador. The move has the approval of the Netherlands Government.

Jan. 21: General de Gaulle has re signed as President of France and is leaving Paris. He says his decision is irrevocable, and that he never intended to retain power once he considered his task completed and Prance’s transitional

period completed.

Jan. 22; Apparently as a diversionary move to Persia’s request to UNO, Russia has demanded an inquiry, by the Security Council, into Britain’s conduct in Greece and Indonesia.

Jan. 24: Felix Gouin, a Socialist, has been elected Premier of France in succes sion to de Gaulle, and is attempting to form a Cabinet. French observers, how ever, do not expect his Government to nave a very long life.

Jan. 26: Mr. Churchill has sold a copy of the speech which he made to a secret session of the House of Commons in April, 1942, concerning the fall of Singa pore, to an American magazine for pub lication. In the speech Mr. Churchill said that 100.000 defenders of Singapore surrendered to 30.000 Japanese; that there was much recrimination; that the Australians blamed Indian troops, and others disparaged the Australians. There has been Quick reaction in Australia where some individuals and organisations imagine the AIF has been libelled; and a demand for a public inquiry.

Jan. 29: The Lieut.-Governor of the Netherlands, Dr. van Mook, will present a 15-point plan, which he recently brought from Holland, to the Indonesian “Premier” Sjahrir when the British special Ambassador, Sir Archibald Clark Kerr, arrives in early February.

Jan. 30: M. Trygve Lie, Norwegian Foreign Minister, has been selected by UNO as Secretary-General. The Big Five selected him for his capabilities and be cause the choice of a Norwegian ruled out any suggestion of influence by the Great Powers. He will be chief adminis trative officer of UNO.

Jan. 30: Mr. Harry Hopkins, the late President Roosevelt’s most trusted ad viser. died to-day after a long illness.

Jan. 30: After lengthy and bitter dis cussion, UNO decided to leave the Per sian complaint to amicable adjustment between Persia and Russia.

Feb. 1: The Soviet delegate to UNO has introduced to the Security Council Russia’s complaint that British forces are controlling and directing political affairs in Greece. He said that Russia had drawn the Allies’ attention to it at the

Yalta, Berlin and Moscow Conferences.

After the Russian case is stated, replies will be made by British and Greek repre sentatives.

Feb. 4: Concurrently with a Soviet press campaign against Britain, the Rus sian delegate to UNO accused the British Foreign Minister, Mr. Bevin, of presenting the facts about Britain’s pre sence in Greece “very carelessly.” He has repeated the Soviet’s demand for the im mediate and unconditional withdrawal of British troops from Greece, but so far has not asked the Council to take action.

If a vote is taken, seven other members beside Russia must vote for withdrawal; this is considered unlikely. Mr. Bevin has repudiated the Russian suggestion of undue interference and his plea that the British are there at Greece's invitation is supported by the Greek delegation.

Feb. 4: The possibility that the pro posed £l,OOO million loan from the United States to Britain will be rejected, or de layed, by US Congress, is worrying British Cabinet. It was hoped that Con gress would debate the Bill by April, but it seems certain now that it will not be discussed before June. In the meantime the British standard of living continues to fall.

Feb. 6: The Security Council of UNO last night did not clear Britain of the Soviet’s charge of endangering world peace by maintaining armed forces in Greece, as demanded by Mr. Bevin. To day, Mr. Bevin reported on the Greek situation to an urgent special meeting of British Cabinet.

Feb. 7: By general agreement, the Security Council of UNO has decided to consider as closed the question of the presence of British troops in Greece.

Feb. 7: The General Assembly of the League of Nations has been summoned to meet in Geneva on March 8, for what will probably be its last session.

Feb. S : In order to meet the acute food situation in Britain, it may be neces sary for the Government to reduce dras tically the importation of American films, petrol and tobacco in order to save dollars for essential food from America.

Fresh cuts in the food ration have been received unfavourably everywhere in Britain. Criticism is levelled at the Minis try for its failure to warn the public of the grave developments now suddenly dis closed, and secondly for its failure to pre pare the farmers. Food shortage, amounting to famine in some cases, is general throughout Europe.

Feb. 8: The execution of convicted Japanese war criminal, General Yama shita, which had been stayed pending action by President Truman, has been ordered to proceed, and Yamashita will be stripped of all decorations and hanged.

Feb. 10: A new UNO “crisis” mav be caused by Russia’s sunport of the Ukrai nian complaint regarding the presence of British troops in Indonesia. Russia asks that Britain, Russia, China, America and the Netherlands be represented on a commission of investigation on Indonesia.

Feb. 10: UNO is being asked by France, Britain, Russia. United States and China to urge the world to grow all the food possible in order .to avoid a famine.