Evening star., 1946-08-08
Floreup in Paris

With the adoption of the British
compromise" proposal on proce-
dural voting by the rules committee
of the Paris Peace Conference, a
cooling off" period may be expected
to follow the f1areup which was
marked by the heated verbal ex-
change between Secretary of State
Byrnes and Soviet Foreign Minister
Molotov. 1t may be doubted, how
ever, that improved formal relations
will cure the basic differences which
led to the clash between Mr.. Byrnes
and the head of the Russian
delegation.
The British compromise is one
of those face-saving devices which
solves nothing. Mr.. Molotov had
fought bitterly for rule requiring
a two-thirds vote to bring a con-
ference proposal to the attention of
the big Four" representatives. Del
egates from most of the smaller
nations, supported by Mr.. Byrnes,
advocated rule calling for a simple
majority vote. Under the terms of
the compromise. a recommendation
carried either by a thirds vote
or a majority vote will go on the
agenda of the Big Four Council,
where, of course, it will be subject
to the veto power of any one of the
a3y l1xy f-o
settlement accomplishes nothing,
except perhaps to lend a certain
added measure of moral force to
recommendation supported by two
thirds of the delegates.
In resisting the majority proposal,
however, Mr.. Molotov made a speech
in which he attacked the ANGLO
Saxon" nations and, by Implication
at least. questioned the motives and
integrity of Mr.. Byrnes. This was
too much for the long g-suffering
South Carolinian. Obtaining the
floor, he proceeded to castigate the
Soviet delegate, accusing him of try
ing to dictate to the Conference, of
resorting to the device of impugning
the motives of others when he could
not have his own way, and of know
ingly misrepresenting the facts. In
it's entirety, it was an astonishing
speech to be delivered in any diplo-
matte gathering, but it was we'll
documented by quotations from the
record and Mr.. Molotov, in his reply,
did not and presumably could not
refute the charges made by Mr..
Byrnes
The ultimate results of this clash
remain to be determined. In all
probability there will be at least
temporary Improvement in out
ward relationships, but it is hardly
to be expected that the righteous
indignation of Mr. Byrnes, however
vigorously expressed, can clear away
the differences of purpose and the
incompatible methods which are at
the bottom of the difficulties in
which the Peace Conference finds
itself. Russia wants a settlement
predicated on the dominance of the
big powers, and, even with that,
shaped to give her what she regards
as an absolute maximum of physical
and economic security. The United
States is more attentive to the de-
mands of the smaller nations and
more sympathetic toward the ideal
of security based upon international
cooperation. Britain tends to be
aligned with us. while the French
seem more inclined toward middle
course. What the final solution will
be is any ones guess. Willingness
to call a spade a spade In dealing
with Mr.. Molotov may help some.
But in the last analysis the chances
are that the peace settlement will
be most profoundly Influenced by
the nation which holds the highest
cards in terms of actual power and
strategic disposition Of that power