Evening star., 1943-08-23
litvinoff Incident
Stirs London Plea
For Plain Speaking
BY the Associated Press,

BY the Associated Press.
LONDON. Aug 23-While ad-
mlttedly uneasy about Maxim Lit
Vinoff's removal as Ambassador to
Washington, todays London morn
ing newspapers appeared willing to
accept the view that it meant no
change in the Russian policy. but
the feeling was voiced that more
open diplomacy and plain speaking"
were needed.
The Daily Mail said the absence of
such diplomacy and plain speaking
creates an atmosphere beloved by
rumormongers and mischiefmakers
we do not know what effect all
this mystery is having on the enemy,
but frankly it Scares us"
What we would like to see on our
side" the Mail said, lis a general
clearing of the air to get rid of the
vague-and let us hope, unfounded-
feeling that things are not quite
right especially between Russia and
her western allies"
Two papers-Lord Beaverbrook
express and the News Chronicle
carried the same headline, Lit
vinoff: Moscow policy unchanged"
Moreover the Express, without men,
tioning the switch in ambassadors in
its lead editorial, urged speed in
opening a. second front acceptable
to the Russians. Can any man
wonder at the urgency of Stains
call for German reserves to be di-
verted from his front?" the Express
asked.
The Laborite Herald in reference
to a rumor that Stains removal of
Litvinoff was his way of showing
dissatisfaction with the Quebec con-
ference's resuluts, said there is no
support for this or for the view that
the change indicated resentment at
a decision not to open an immediate
second front in Western Europe"
The London Times diplomatic cor
respondent said that while Litvinoff
had been expected to relinquish his
post in Washington for some time.
even so, the timing of his removal
can hardly have been accidental. In
making the change, entirely normal
IN itself, the Soviet government may
have been aware that it would cause
some conjecture at this time"
The Times said, however, that
observers in London take the news
more quietly than some COM
mentators in Quebec"
Moscow dispatches said the recall
of Litvinoff and his replacement
by Andrei A, Gromyko was an
nounced in a routine manner in
the Moscow press, and that Lit
vinoff retained the title of Vice
Commissar for Foreign Affairs as did
Ivan Maisky following his recall as
Ambassador from London last !
month.
Further. 1t was announced in Lon
don that Edward Benes, Provisional
President of the Czech government.
will leave shortly for Moscow to con-
clude a Soviet Czech treaty of al
lance similar to the 1885 pact be-
tween Moscow and Prague which
was vitiated by the Munich agree
ment of 1888
The new pact, it was reported |
will provide Soviet guarantees for
the integrity of CzechoSiovakia and |
one clause implies a common land |
frontier-meaning recognition of the
1912 frontiers of Russia in Poland. |
The Russians will support a return |
to Czechoslovakia of Teschen. an /
nexed by Poland after Munich. it
was reported
DR.. Benes' trip to Moscow has been /
delayed because the Polish govern /
ment objects to the treaty which he /
Is going to sign, and the British gov
eminent has adopted the attitude
that DR.. Benes should do nothing
now affecting frontier problems.
Questions are to be submitted to .
the House of Commons when it re- /
assemblies regarding reports that |
Whitehall sought to stop DR.. Benes' .
trip because OF Poland's anxiety.
The separate peace idea received
scant acceptance here. not only be-
cause the BritiSh-Soviet treaty bars
such step, but also because Pre- |
mier Stain presumably is convinced !
mat some one must smash Hitler /
If the Soviet is to exist. He pre-
sumably believes that if Russia
withdrew from the war and Western
powers failed to carry through the .
job of beating Hitler, the Red Army /.
again would have to take up the /
task without allies. And if the de-
mocracies won in the face of a Rus (
sian withdrawal, he would have for
feited all chance for friendship and
cooperation with them.
Some such idea seemed to be the /
German reaction. A Berlin broad /
cast, while gloatjng that the latest /
row in the Allied camp thus again
has become acute" soberly declared (
this domestic row makes neither .
Roosevelt. Churchill nor Stain anv
less hostile toward National Social .
ism and they are now as before. !
agreed that it must be fought to the
end"