Evening star., 1946-12-10
big 4 Moscow Parle,
Tied 10 Reversal
Attitude by Molofoy
sy ihs Asseeio,sd Prs.s

next Big -Four Foreign Ministers
Conference slated for Moscow March
10. Western diplomats expressed
hope today that Soviet Foreign
Minister Molotov would quickly re-.
verse himself and agree to get the
views of small nations on Germany
before the great powers start work,
on a German peace treaty.
In fact, If Mr.. Molotov does not
yield in his opposition on this point
by the end of the week it seems
highly unlikely that the Moscow
session will be held Secretary OF
State Byrnes told the Foreign Min
listers Council meeting last night he
was fatty opposed to making any
German decisions until the small
nations have had opportunity to ex-
press their views. 3
Mr.. Molotov said he would think
1.-THE matter over.
Council Meeting This Morning.
Meanwhile, the Council agreed to
meet this morning to clean up odds
and ends of the five European satel-
lite peace treaties which are being
completed here and possibly begin
consideration of an agenda for the
Moscow meeting.
Generally, diplomats considered 1t
likely that Mr.. Molotov would find
some way to agree to the appoint-
ment here OF deputy Big Four For
eign Ministers who would hold hear
ings in Europe in January and Feb
ruary and report to the Moscow
Conference shortly after it opens.
| In agreeing to hold the meeting
in the Russian capital, Mr.. Byrnes,
British Foreign Secretary Bevin and
French Deputy Foreign Minister
Maurice Couye de Murville were as
sured by Mr.. Molotov that news re-
porters from their countries would
be able to report freely what hap
ems there.
Mr.. Byrnes, who had discussed
this problem In private with Mr..
Molotov prior to last nights ses-
sion, was quoted as having told the
Soviet diplomat he felt the confer
erice in Moscow last December was
not well covered because OF restric-
tions thrown around it.
Promises Free Reporting.
Mr.. Molotov, according to persons
present, told the Council the Soviet
government would be glad to see
friends of the Western powers in
MOSCOW. In spite of housing diff
culties, he said, everything would
be done to provide for pressmen
as well as to create conditions ia
vorable to their press activities.
Correspondents, he added, would
be able to report the proceedings
of the meeting from Moscow just
as they have from Paris and New
York. This was interpreted to mean
they would not be under any cen-i
sorship or other governmental
handicaps.
On the question of hearings for
the small nations, Mr.. Byrnes told
the Council the United States would
not be prepared to take any posi-
ton on the fixing OF Germany's
boundaries or on other important
questions involved in peace set
tlement until the views Of the
smaller nations had been heard.
Mr.. Molotov, who had preFiouhly
objected ITO naming deputie to
hold such hearings until the big
powers could make preliminary
decisions on Germany said he
would have to give the niAtter fur
ther thought. =
His decision will have to be made
in few days because the Council
Is planning to wind up its sessions
here this week.
Agenda to Be Settled.
The only other important problem
to be settled is that of the agenda !
for the Moscow meeting.
Mr.. Bevin declared it should in
clude a report on the Allied Con-
troll Council in Berlin, covering the
whole status of reparations and also
the problem of the return of Ger
man war prisoners from Russia and
other countries, this being an i'm
portant element of Germany's In
dustrial manpower potential.
Other items III the agenda, ac-
cording to preliminary drafts al.
ready proposed by the big powers.
will include consideration of the
permanent political organization OF
Germany and measures for insur-5
ing European security, notably Mr.,
Byrnes' proposal for 40-year Ger
man disarmament treaty.