Evening star., 1945-07-04
Russian Insisfence
On Voice in Iangier
Poses Big ; Problem
ay the Associated Press.

LONDON, July 4.-Russian in
siStence on a voice in discussions
over restoration of Tangier to
its prewar international status
raised a new diplomatic problem
for the Big Three today vir-
tually on the eve of their Berlin
conference.
A British Foreign Office commen-
tator said the Russian request was
still under consideration" and
bound to cause delay in the settle
ment" involving the strategic ports
on the Straits of Gibraltar taken
over in June, 1910, by Spain from
the other co-guarantors, France,
Britain and Italy.
The Soviet government newspaper
Izvestia said Moscow had not been
invited ito take part either in the
preliminary exchange of viewpoints
or in the conference" in Paris.
Izvestia said:
ANY discussion of the problem of
Tangier without the Soviet Unions
taking part in its cannot be recog-
nized as legitimate"
Granting of Request Seen.
Associated Press Correspondent
EDDY Gilmore reported from Mos
cow that foreign diplomatic circles
in the Soviet capital believed Rus
sia's request would be granted.
The British spokesman said dis
cussions among the United States,
Britain and France were continuing
on an informal basis. This was in
apparent contradiction to state
ment by French Foreign Office Of
fetal that they had been suspended
Indefinitely.
Some diplomatic quarters saw a
possibility that Russia would press
her demand to the utmost with a
view to forcing an Allied showdown
with Generalissimo Francisco Fran
co, whose government now has inoi-
Gated it is willing to withdraw its
armed forces from Tangier.
1t appeared doubtful whether
Spain even would be invited to par
ticipate in discussions on the new
administration of the zone, particu-l
larly if Russia takes part, since
Moscow does not recognize the Fran
CO regime, which it repeatedly has
denounced as Fascist.
The question of war reparationS
to be demanded from Germany was
expected to be one of the many sub
mitted to President Truman, Pre-
mier Stain and Prime Minister
Churchill for approval.
A British Foreign ONCE Spokes
man said there was little likelihood
there would be a report from the
reparations commission meeting in
Moscow before the Big Three con-
ference.
The London Daily Express said
Mr.. Churchill would leave for the
continent soon after the British gen.
ersl election tomorrow to partici-
pate in the Big Three conference.
At the same time, Frank A. King,
diplomatic correspondent of the
British Press Association, wrote that
reports giving the opening date
(of the Big Three meeting) as next
Tuesday may not be far off"
Eden May Attend Talks.
Official British quarters declined
TO comment on any of this specula-
ton, hope was voiced in diplomatic
circles, however, that Foreign Sec
retary Anthony Eden, who has been
Ill, might be well enough to go to
the meeting with Mr.. Churchill, al
though he had been ordered by his
physician on June IL to rest for 30
days.
A London dispatch to the New
York Herald Tribune today said it
had been learned in the British
capital last night that the Big
Three meeting would begin on Sun
day, July Is, and continue for 10 or
II days.
Diyerf Coyerooe of Talks