Evening star., 1951-02-26
Russia Tells Britain
Her Men Under Arms
Are Half Of West 5
BY the Assoeiated Press

by the Associated Press
MOSCOW, Feb. 26.-Russia tolo
Britain during the week end that
she has less than half as many
men under arms as the Western
Big Three. She added that she
was ready to negotiate her differ
ences with the British.
She made these statements in a
note, published yesterday, repeat
ing previous Soviet charges that
the Attlee government "crudely
tramples" on the 1912 Anglo
Soviet alliance by joining thes At
lantic coalition "aimed directly
against the U. S. s. r."
The note declared that the
forces of Britain, France and the
United States total more than
million men and that Soviet forces
are less than half that size.
Observers here regarded as sig
nif1cant this indication that Rus
STA counts only about 2.5 million
men in her navy. air force and
army. It is the nearest she has
come in several years to Offering
any figures on her military
strength.
Below Western Estimates.
It was also noted that the figure
fell far below estimates of the
size of the Soviet Army alone that
have been published in the west.
(The United States Senate
Foreign Relations Committee on
February IA estimated the So
Wet Army at 4 million men and
said Russia's European satel-
lites had another l million, as
opposed to a total of as mil
lion for all IL Atlantic pact ma
tions. Red China's army is
generally placed at 8 million.
The committee report said
the United States had 2.3 million
men under arms, the United
Kingdom 729,000, France 722,-
900 and Canada 81 900.
(This total of 1912. 900 for the
armed strength of the four
nations includes army, navy and
air force personnel)
Russia went on to, say that she
had, through systematic demobili-
cations since the war. cut he1
armed forces to where they stood
in 1899. On the other hand, she
said, Britain, the United States
and France have several times
the number they had under arms
in 1889.
Observers concluded from this
that if the proposed Big Foul
Foreign Ministers Conference il
held to discuss existing armament
levels, as suggested by the West
Russia will present figures tt
maintain that the Western powers
not she. are preparing for aggres.
sion. ....-.
Reply to British Note.
The latest Soviet note was ir
reply to Britain's communication
of February II answering the
Russian charge that Britain j.
violating the British-Soviet al
lance Of 1912.
Repeating the charge. Russis
declared Britain "has fallen un-
der the subjugation Of the United
States" and is being turned into
an American military base BY
Washington's financial hand
outs" yst4
Russia said she is ready to en-
ter into negotiations striving tc
use all opportunities for improv-
ing relations with Great Britain
even though she lacks full con-
fidence" in Britain's sincerity.
The note branded as "slander'
the British reply of February II
The Kremlin denied the British
charges that Russia is abettine
aggression in Korea, aiding the
Communists in Malaga, Indo-
SlllIld dllO 1ACCNCs dooAotAiS SSAAA
munist minorities to power in
Eastern Europe and committing
other acts allegedly designed to
foment world unrest.
Austria Opposed rs Western Base
| in turn, Russia demanded that
Britain and the United States
abandon plans for turning Aus
tria into their new military base
in the very heart of Europe"
"It is time" the note went on
that Britain recognize that Bull.
garia, Hungary and Romania have
the right to arrange their own
affairs and that she quit trying
to restore "Fascists" to power
there.
Commenting on the 1912 alli-
ance, Russia said it was Britain
who had departed from its OBJ.
servance by conspiring with the
United States to build up a West
German state, restore German
war industry and recreate West
German army.