Evening star., 1945-09-24
Big Five Encounters
Serious Difficulties
In Reaching Accord
Dissolution of Council
And New Method for
Treaties Is Predicted
81 the Associated Fress.

LONDON, Sept. 24.-The Big
Five Council of Foreign Ministers
today turned to discussion of
Europe's inland waterways and
the immediate future of Austria
amid increasing indications that
the group was meeting serious
difficulty in reaching agreements
under its present procedure.
The Council met twice today in
an attempt to compromise the con-
flicting views.
Some observers already are pre-
dieting that the council may be
dissolved and another means found
to write Europe's peace.
This view was reflected in an edi-
torial today in the Daily Mail, which
said: 1T has become clear that the
first meeting of the Council of For
eign Ministers has not succeeded.
. Before the delegates disperse
some face-saving formula will no
doubt be devised to cover their ac-
tivities."
Hungarian Talks Shelved.
The immediate issue threatening
Big Five unity is Soviet objection
to France and China participating
in Hungarian treaty discussions.
Russian complaints shelved the
Hungarian talks-last peace terms
on the agenda-until the procedure
is Strengthened out.
Russian Foreign Commissar Wy
acheslav Molotov repeatedly based
his protest on Potsdam agreement
that only signatories to the armis-
tices would discuss the peace treaties
at this initial stage. 1t was s\learned
reliably that Molotov brought up
the subject only after the conferees
found they were not reaching any
basic agreement.
Diplomatic sources said the Rus
slams apparently feared the United
States and Britain might pull
France and China over to their side
and drown the voice of Moscow.
Only the Big Three-Russia,
United States and Britain-signed
the Hungarian armistice. Only the
Big Three signed armistices with
Italy, Bulgaria and Romania, but
treaties with these nations already
have been discussed in full council
sessions and passed on to deputies.
Only Russia and Britain were sig
natorieS to the armistice with Fin
land, which also was thrown open
to all five for consideration, al
though the two signatories did most
of the talking.
Influence Spheres Are Bar.
The main stumbling block, which
has been building up for years,
seemingly involves the old question
of spheres of influence. The ques-
ton of outlining spheres of in
f1uence throughout the world for
each major power and deciding to
what extent each power should
WELD exclusive control in its own
sphere iS high in the minds of the
council delegate, but thus far has
been carefully skirted in direct dis
cussion here.
Commenting on the situation the
Daily Mail said: s
Russia appears to have an in
delible suspicion of the motives of
the Western powers. - The only
result of such conduct is to arouse
countersuspicions against herself
and to forfeit the almost illimitable
good will she enjoyed among the
mass of peoples"
The European waterways question
finds the United States and Russia
offering different plans. Russia
wants the waterways under the con-
troll of the occupation forces, which
would give Russia the keys to the
Danube, Oder and part of the Elbe
while the Western Allies would con-
troll the Kiel Canal and the Rhine.
The United States, however, wants
international control of these water
ways by the Big Four. together with
riparian states.
Meanwhile, as the Big Five dis
cussed the future of Austria, dele
gates to Austria's provincial assem-
(Can nTC TaTyyE no -