Evening star., 1947-11-27
France Reported
Backing Reds on
German Frontier
BidouIt Is Expected
To State Position
In London Today
BY The Assoeioted Press

LONDON, Nov. French
sources said their Foreign Min
lister, Georges Bidault, at today's
meeting of the Big Four would
accept the eastern frontiers OF
Germany as outlined at the
Potsdam conference.
The Potsdam decision was an
agreement that, pending final de-
termination of Poland's Western
frontier" large slices of Eastern Ger
many should be placed under the
administration of the Polish state" :"
In effect, Germany's Eastern FROM
tier was pulled in to the Oder end
Neisse Rivers. Parts of East Prussia
were placed under the administra-
ton" Of Poland and parts under
the administration" of Russia. in
cluding the fortress port of Koen-
igsherg, now Kaliningrad.
United States, Britain Opposed.
Such a position by France in sup
port of Russia would be in opposi-
ton to views of Secretary of State
Marshall and British Foreign Sec
retary Bevin, who have insisted that
the de. facto transfer of German ter
ritory to Poland should await dis
cussion and confirmation by an
Allied neace conference.
French information said Mr.
Bidault's expected acceptance of
the eastern frontiers was a recog-
milton of the changes as accom-
plished facts Millions of persons
already have been transferred from
affected areas and Poland is, ad-
ministering the annexed territory
These sources implied France
did not necessarily support the
principles of the changes, but was
looking at the situation "realisti.
cally." France was not at the Pots
dam Big Three meeting of the
United States, Russia and Great
Britain.
Some diplomats considered it pos
sible that France, by supporting
Russia on the issue, would receive
Russian Endorsement for the al
ready-effected economic incorpora-
ton of the German Saar territory
into French economy.
Bevin Sees Molot0v.
Oficial British and Russian
sources said Mr.. Bevin and Mr..
Molotov discussed matters of com
mon interest" for two hours last
night. Informants said the Min
listers likely sought to reduce differ
ences Of principles dividing them in
their conceptions of Germany's
future. Russian Ambassador Georgi
N. Zarubin attended the meeting at
Mr.. Bevin's residence.
Deputies to the Foreign Ministers
began work on peace and inde-
pendence treaty for Austria.
Diplomats speculated that an i'm
minent showdown was possible
which might determine whether the
conference would succeed.
The lines were drawn sharply yes
terday when Mr.. Molotov accused
the western powers of trying to i'm
pose an "imperalist' peace on Ger
many and with blocking German
recovery while trying to convert the
country into base for military ad-
ventures" in Europe.
Propaganda Battle Seen.
Russia, on the other hand, Mr.
Molotov declared, is struggling for a.
democratic peace" for Germany.
His speech was regarded in Amer
ican and British quarters as part of
q propaganda battle designed to
build Russia up in the minds of the
German people as champion Of
democracy" advocate of speedy re-
covery for Germany and strong op-
ponent of those powers which Mr.
Molotov charged are trying to domi-
nate her.
Mr.. Molotov's utterances, in the
opinion of these observers, empha-
sized the wide differences which
exist between Russia and the
western powers over the principles
on which the German peace treaty
should be based.
Principal questions at stake we're
the kind of German economic and
political unity which can be
achieved-and whether it will favor
Soviet or western political forces
inside Germany.
The American view that Mr..
Molotov was trying to use the con-
ference as a sounding board for
Soviet propaganda. was reflected in
the reply of Gen. Marshall, who de-