Stalin responds to United Press questions, says Churchill greatest threat to peace

LONDON, Oct. 29, 1946 (UP) - Foreign offices throughout the world gave the closest study today to a new pronouncement by Marshal Stalin.

It was contained in replies to 31 questions submitted by the United Press to the head of the Soviet state. Last night Stalin, in a cable from Moscow to the writer here, replied to all 31 questions. Among the points Stalin made:

1. Russia does not have the atom bomb or any similar weapon.

2. The Soviet army has only 60 divisions in western Europe, but plans to reduce them to 40.

3. The most serious threats to world peace are "the incendiaries of a new war: Foremost, Churchill and those who think like him in Great Britain and the United States."

4. Stalin does not believe that the Soviet Union has used the veto power to excess inside the framework of the United Nations.

5. He does not believe there is increased tension between Russia and the United States.

A spokesman for the British foreign office indicated some suspicion concerning the statement that Russia had 60 divisions in Western Europe. He said a division "can be anything from 5,000 to 35,000 men." In some circles Stalin's reply to the question on use of the veto power was regarded as a serious blow to Britain's effort to restrain the use of the veto by the Soviet Union in the United Nations Security Council and the foreign ministers council.

British newspapers featured Stalin's statement that Winston Churchill was the foremost "incendiary of a new war," but there was no immediate reaction from the former prime minister of Britain.

The Italian foreign office showed great interest in Stalin's statement that "Yugoslavia has grounds to be dissatisfied with the draft treaty of peace for Italy." A spokesman said it was "most important for us to know where Russia stood" on the issue.

Moscow newspapers published Stalin's replies to my questions under a four-column head on the right hand side of their front pages. The cabled interview was published textually without introduction or comment.

Upon returning to London from Germany, France and Scandinavia, I wired Stalin 31 questions on Oct. 21. Last night he answered all 31 questions.