Evening star., 1946-10-15
The Work of Paris

The Paris Peace Conference comes
to an end today on q. note OF
deep and worried dissatisfaction all
around. After weeks of acrimonious
debate, treaties Have been written
for Italy, Romania, Hungary, Bull
garia and Finland. but not one of
them has met with anything even
approximating unanimous approval.
Indeed, 1t is entirely possible that
some of their crucial provisions may
never have chance to take effect,
with the result that everything may
remain pretty much as it was when
the twenty-one nations flrst met
three months ago.
This possibility is quite as real as
it is discouraging. The conference,
after all, had power only to debate
issues and make recommendations.
As for the treaties themselves, the
last word rests with the Big Four
Council of Foreign Ministers, any
one of whose members can exercise
the veto power to nullify the work
done at Paris. Moreover, although
the notification prospect may con-
tinue conjectural until the councils
forthcoming meeting in New York,
the embittered speech delivered yes
terday by Mr.. Molotov strongly sug-
gests that Russia is determined to
reject vat least two of the 15-to-6
decisions reached by the twenty-one
nations one calling for an in
ternational regime for Trieste and
the other declaring in favor of free
navigation and trade on the Danube.
Mr.. Molotov's remarks on these
and other conference actions-par-
ticularly his remarks on American
dominance" and his angry over
simplification of why the Russian
led Slavic bloc" was consistently
outvoted-can be answered readily
enough, and effectively enough,
point by point. Details and separate
issues to one side, however, the great
disheartening fact is that even
though Mr. Molotov's arguments
can be demolished. the mere act OF
demolishing them can do little or
nothing to ease the basic situation
responsible for the extraordinary
tempers displayed at Paris and for
the feeling that the work done there
may now prove to be largely futile.
This situation is rooted In the
deep theological and economic diff
ferences existing between east and
west. Russia's position on Trieste
and the Danube is the position of
a totalitarian power intent upon
building-either because it is afraid
or because it wants to extend itself
further-a vast sphere of influence
giving 1t new strength vis-a-vis the
free western world, which Is politi-
cally and economically world
apart. Perhaps time will show that
the Paris Conference, besides exert
ing some moral suasion, served to
clarity issues and thus promote the
kind of understanding there must
be II we are to head off this division
before it solidifies hopelessly. Un-
happily, however. Judging from the
uncompromising tone of Mr.. Molo-
tov's latest speech, the twenty-one-
nation meeting does not seem to
have done that; instead, it seems
merely to have accentuated the fun
damental clash of viewpoints.
In the circumstances, the world
can only hope that present appear
ances are deceiving and that the
work of Paris-which, though full
of compromises, represents at least
a measure of progress toward re-
storing order to Europe-will not be
completely undone by the veto. Ger
tainly, if it is undone, the far more
difficult task of writing treaties for
Austria and Germany will be COM
plicated to the point of real danger,
and the outlook for genuine peace
everywhere a good, cooperative,
lasting peace under the United Ma
tions-will seem dark indeed.