Evening star., 1947-11-22
Allies Wartime Unity
Easier Than Il Is Now,
Marshall Declares
By the Axoeiutsd Press

BY the Asseeiossd Press
OXFORD, England, Nov. a.
Secretary of State Marshall declared
today agreement among the big pow.
ers during the war, when their ex-
istence was threatened, seemed
easier than at present, when the
facts of the hazards are not quite so
clear"
Gen. Marshall spoke at oxford
University ceremonies In which he
received an honorary degree. doctor
of civil law. The degree was con-
ferred by Lord Halifax. chancellor
Of the university. The Secretary is
in England for the Foreign Min
isters' Conference, opening Tuesday.
and Is reported determined to press
for completion of an Austrian inde-
pendence treaty.
Attlee, Eden in Audience.
Among those in the colorfully
robed Oxford audience were Prime
Minister Attlee and Anthony Eden.
Foreign Minister in Britain's war
time government.
The ceremony was in one respect
precedent breaking. When Gen.
Marshall was nominated for the
honor he was allowed to stand
inside the wall of 300-year- r-old
Sheldonian Theater rather than
having to wait outside the door
while the college authorities ap-
proved the nomination.
Also contrary to his own custom
on such occasions, Gen. Marshall
participated in the ceremony wear
ing the scarlet robe of a doctor Of
civil laws rather than ordinary
street dress.
The degree was conferred in
recognition of his services to the
Allied cause as American Army Chief
of Staff. Lord Halifax called him
great architect Of military strength
and of victory, outstanding in de-
voted service, both to your own
country and to the world
Lauds Union of Strength.
Gen. Marshall praised the combi-
nation of British and American
strength in the war.
ut was notable in our gatherings
that we always reached agreement"
he said. 1T was a wonderful thing.
think it carries a great lesson"
But. the Secretary added, such
agreement was probably easier in
that desperate struggle when our
very existence was at stake than 1t
is today when the facts of the
hazard are not quite so clear"
"It is very impressive to the world
today and should be of great signifi-
canoe in the world that democracies,
when the great test comes, can func-
zion satisfactorily to meet such great
issues he declared.
Receives Ovation.
The speech was the first Gen.
Marshall ever made in England He
was applauded frequently and re-
ceived an ovation when he finished.
Gen. Marshall, who arrived here
yesterday by plane from Washing
ton, was described authoritatively as
having an open mind" on German
peace treaty issues, ready to consider
any new proposals which may be
put forward by Soviet Foreign Min
lister Molotov in the interest of
progress on the German problem.
Neither Soviet nor Western power
positions on such basic issues as
German reparations and government
organization have changed since the
Moscow conference last spring and
it was apparent that the meeting of
British, French, Russian and United
States diplomats would open in
state of deadlock with little hope foi
substantial progress.
In the case OF Austria, only one
outstanding issue remains to be set
tled-the long dispute between the
Western powers and Russia over
what constitutes German assets sub
ject to seizure for reparations in
Austria. Russia wants to claim
virtually everything the Germans
owned or acquired in Austria. The
other three powers would exempt all
properties which the Germans ac-
quired by force after Anschluss.
At the heart of this question is
the American contention that heavy
seizures of property as permitted
under the Soviet proposal either
would wreck Austria or turn control
OF its economy over to foreign
hands.
American pressure for early COM
pletion OF an Austrian treaty stems
partly from the fact that it would
mean withdrawal of all occupation
armies from the country, which Of
ficially is considered to be a liber-
ated. rather than a former enemy
country.