Evening star., 1947-12-14
By John N. Hiehtower

LONDON, Dec. 13-It began to
look today as though Vyacheslav
Molotov once more had pulled the
American chestnuts out of the fire.
Just when Western Diplomats had
become convinced that a failure of
the London conference appeared
inevitable and were beginning to
wonder how the blame could be
fixed on Russia-where they con-
tend it belongs-Mr. Molotov came
forward yesterday with a virulent
attack which they called abusive
and insulting.
At moment when he had the
council jolting along toward pos
sible minor agreements on Germany,
he suddenly changed his direction
and produced a violent new dis
agreement. He has given Secre-
tary Of State Marshall, British For
eign Secretary Bevin and French
Foreign Minister Bidault strong rea-
son-if they want ito break of
the London conference and say Rus
sia made any progress here impos-
sible.
This is not the first time MIR. Molo-
tov has reversed his field-or had it
reversed for him. What makes him
do it?
Molotov Plays Concessions.
The answer most commonly given
by Western diplomats familiar with
the mysterious workings of the So
Wet government is that sometimes
Mr.. Molotov does what he wants to
do, and sometimes he has to do what
the Politburean tells him to do.
The Politburean is that little
group of IA men-including Prime
Minister Stain and Mr.. Molotov-
who run Russia. Mr.. Molotov is
the only one of the whole group
with extensive experience beyond
Russia's borders-the only one who
knows the Western world.
The theory of the official experts
around Gen. Marshall is that when
Mr.. Molotov is playing the diplomacy
OF little concessions-when he de-
mands and appears to be maneuver-
ing for Big Four agreements-he L
acting on his best Judgment West.
ern diplomats concede that on his
own Mr.. Molotov is a superb opera.
tor at the conference table.
But when he makes a switch, wher
he bundles up all the familiar So
Wet radio propaganda charges anc
filings them in the teeth of the othel
foreign ministers, then he is be-
lieved by the experts to be actin,
on instructions of the Politbureau
whose members know much abou
Marxist politics but little abou
diplomacy.
Two days ago it was reliably re-
ported from Soviet sources that Mr.
Molotov was going to offer a com
promise on reparations. American
and British officials were convinced
that he would do so. For almost F..
week he had taken mild and con
ciliatory line. Then, instead of ,
compromise he let go with anothe
TRADE.
This instantly changed the situa
ton. Gen. Marshall, Mr.. Bevin ant
Mr.. Bidault had gone into the con
ference to see whether Mr.. Moloto'
might be willing to compromise-bu
pretty well convinced he would not
Problem to Fix Blame.
In all three western delegations
lesser officials privately asked: Wha
compromise is possible when Ger
man production is at the heart o
European recovery under the Mar
shall Plan which Russia Is com
mitted to wreck?
The practical political problem
thus became almost from the frs
a question of fixing the blame TO
the generally expected failure of tn,
London Conference. For q time i
appeared that Mr.. Molotov with hi
talk of minor concessions and tn,
need for agreement was putting tn,
western ministers on the spot. They
were determined not to make any
half way agreements but might hav.
found it exceedingly embarrassing tt
reject any such minor compromise!
Mr. Molotov insisted upon.
When he switched yesterday tt
angry denunciation he abandoned
the whole position he had so care.
fully built up and gave the western
ministers their opening, a chance tt
proclaim a deadlock and level thu