Evening star., 1945-09-05
Byrnes Off for Big 5
Talks on European
Peace Settlements
BY GARNETT d. HORNER,


secretary of State Byrnes, carry
Ing with him definite but undisclosed
loeaS on disposition of Italian COL
ONES, was en- route to London today
70 work out agreement with other
big Five Foreign Ministers on Euro
pean peace settlements.
Mr.. Byrnes left Washington last
hlght to board the liner Queen Eliz-
apeth In New York after news con-
terence in which he disclosed that:
l. The United States agreed at the
Big Three Yalta Conference not to
oppose Russian claims to the Kurile
Islands and the southern half of
Sakhalln Island, off Northern Japan.
Z. He intends to appoint special
assistant to help carry out intensi-
Ted cooperation with the War and
Navy Departments.
AtchesOn Named Envoy TO Thailand.
3. George Atcheson, jr.. 48-year-
old career diplomat with 25 years of
service in the Far East, has been
named Minister to Thailand and
acting political adviser to Gen
Douglas Macarthur in the occupa-
ton of Japan.
4. A new American Ambassador
will be sent to Argentina soon after
Ambassador Spruille Braden returns
here to take up his new duties as
Assistant Secretary of State in
charge of Latin American affairs.
5. He strongly favorS maintenance
of unified intelligence service, CO.
ordinating Army, Navy and civilian
work in this field, and believes much
of the present Office of Strategic
Services personnel should be re-
tanned in such an agency.
6. Russia has not yet agreed to
proposed Big Three consultation on
request from the King of Romania
Tor assistance in setting up a DEM
ocratic government, but he has asked
that Soviet Foreign CommiSsar
Molotov be authorized to discuss
this problem at London.
Terms for Italy First Task.
Preparation of peace terms for
Italy is scheduled as the first task
OF the Foreign Ministers Council
which will convene in London Sep
tember 10. The council later will
draw up peace treaties for other
former enemy countries in Europe,
and plan international control of
European inland waterways. The
councils agreements will be sub
mltted to other United Nations for
final approval.
1aklng cognlzance of reports that
there were divided opinions within
the State Department on whether
1taly's prewar colonies should be re-
stored to her, or turned over to in
dlVldual members of the United
Nations Or to international trustee
ship, MT. Byrnes said he and
PreSldent Truman were in entire ac-
cord OFF this Governments position.
He declined to elaborate, however,
pending the Big Five consultations.
Mf, ByrneS took II assistants with
hlrH to London. Assistant Secretary
OF State James C. Dunn is his
deputy. John Foster Dulles, prom
lhent Republican international law
per, is one OF his principal advisers.
kurileS Discussed at Yalta.
Inc secretary told queStioners at
his news conference late yesterday
that RuSSia's position in the Kurile
Islands and Sakhalin Island would
nave to be settled definitely some
time in the future.
He said no agreement on the mat
ter was reached at the Potsdam Big
Three Conference, but quickly added
this wasn't fair statement-that it
had been discussed at Yalta. He
explained that the YaIta discussion
was the basis for his statement that
the United States did not oppose
Russia's claims.
The islands involved already have
been occupied by Russian troops.
Premier Stain said in a VI day
broadcast Sunday that the Soviet
would regain the Kurile Islands,
which were lost to Japan in the war
of 1904.