Evening star., 1948-05-11

drawing closer together In mutual
self-protection."
In response Mr.. Molotov was
quoted as saying:
THE Soviet government views
favorably the desire of the Govern
ment of the United States to i'm
prove relations as expressed in
(Gen. Smith's) statement and
agrees to the proposal to proceed
with this end in view to discussion
and settlement of differences ex-
isting between us"
The main points of the Russian
note we're:
/. Russia has positive attitude"
toward improving Soviet-American
relations.
2. Russia "is in agreement with"
the United States proposal for dis
cussion and settlement" of existing
differences.
3. Russia rejects the American
contention that 'the cause of the
nresentS unsatisfactory state of
Soviet-American relations and the
strain in the international situation
is the policy Of the U. S. S. r. in
Eastern Europe and the increase in
influence of the Soviet Union"
4. Soviet relations with Eastern
European countries have improved
considerably since the war by means
of mutual aid and friendship pacts
aimed at a repetition of aggression
by Germany and her possible allies.
U. S. Policy Cited.
5. Similarly, sit is known that
the United States is also pursuing
a policy Of strengthening its rela-
tions with neighboring countries
for instance with Canada, Mexico
and the other countries OF America. u
6. This Soviet policy will continue
7. Russia has not interfered in the
evolution of democratic changes
within Eastern European countries.
s. The United States permits in
reference III the internal affairs ol
other countries, "the events ir
Greece being not the only exam.
Pile"
9. There would be no cause for a
negative attitude on the part Of the
Soviet Union" toward the Marshal.
Plan if the question of European re-
Mobilization were mot put the way
it is; that If it were put ION basi:
OF normal conditions OF interna-
tional economic cooperation with.
in the framework of the United
Nations Organization on a basis o1
respect for national rights and the
sovereignty of states"
TO- Russia. "one of the countries
which economically suffered most
during the war, is extremely inter
ested in the development of postwar
international economic co-opera-
tion.'
Response Unsatisfactory.
The unsatisfactory nature of Mr.
Molotov's response was indicated ir
informal comment to him at the
| time by Gen. Smith, who took ur
some Of his charges against the
United States and said that facts
spoke for themselves"
He countered a complaint by Mr.
Molotov that development of United
States bases threatened the Soviet
by saying that Americas entire his
tory was refutation of any suspicion
of policy which involved aggres-
sive war"
The Ambassador reiterated thai
American support for the Western
European countries directly reflected
fears aroused by Russia's "expan.
sionist" policy.
While I had no right to dis
believe his tMolotov's) statements,
Gen. Smith reported, Il could not
refrain from paraphrasing Mr.
Vishinsky's comment that facts
spoke for themselves"
Coups Blamed on Soviet.
He asserted that the United States
remained convinced that Communist
coups in such countries as Czecho-
slovakia would have been impossible
without Russian support.
With regard to trade with Russia,
Gen. Smith pointed to the nearly
$11 900 100000 worth of lend-lease
goods sent to the Soviet. much of
peacetime use, and declared that