Evening star., 1947-12-13
Ministers Defer
Session 10 LET
1empers Cool
MoIotov's Outburst
Brings Conference
Near End of Road
(Tert OF Molotop Statement on
Page B-10.)
BY the Associated Press

LONDON, Dec. ia stormy
east-west debate over German
reparations, heightened by a new
burst of Soviet charges against
the United States, France and
Britain, brought the London
Conference of Foreign Ministers
near the end of the road today.
The session scheduled for today
was postponed until Monday on
British initiative, in order to allow
tempers to cool after last nights
violent argument.
The postponement was announced
by the conference secretariat.
A member of the United States
delegation said it was agreed that
another session today would only
result in quick tempers and con-
fusion. The tWo-day recess will give
the ministers time to plan a course
of action.
Hopeless Deadlock Seen.
Authoritative sources said the
American delegation agreed the con-
ference was "hopelessly deadlocked"
on the subject of reparations and
that without agreement on repara-
tions, discussion of economic and
other subjects was useless.
Secretary Marshall is expected to
decide over the week end whether
to try to break off the conference
Immediately or finish the agenda
before doing it. Part of the deci-
sion will depend on the attitude of
Foreign Minister Molotov of Russia
at the opening of the Monday meet
ing. Mr.. Molotov was understood to
be willing that the sessions continue.
A Soviet spokesman said the future
of the parley would depend on Gen.
Marshall.
Gen. Marshall was scheduled to
meet Mr.. Molotov and his deputy,
Andrei Y. Vishinsky, at luncheon
today at Ambassador Lewis W.
Douglas residence. An official
spokesman said the luncheon was
arranged several days ago.
Some of Gen. Marshall's advisers
said privately they believed Mr.
Molotov's attack yesterday, when he
denounced the whole range of the
western powers policy in Germany
had killed all hope even for super
f1cial Big Four agreements on Ger
many and that little If anything
could be accomplished by going on
here.
May Avoid Formal Break.
Others contended Gen. Marshall
might better avoid a move to end
the conference Immediately because
of the possibility of the upsetting
effects throughout Europe of such
a formal Big -Four break.
Similar views had to be resolved
into a course of action in the dele
cations of British Foreign Secretary
Bevin and French Foreign Minister
Bidault Beyond that it seemed GER
tain the leaders of the western
powers would seek an accord before
taking any drastic action.
The speech in which, as some
Western diplomats said, Mr.. Molotov
"threw the book" at the other three
ministers came as surprise, be-
cause delegations of the Western
powers went into yesterdays meet
ing expecting continuation of Mr..
Molotov's mild, conciliatory tactics
of last week.
Some had speculated that he
might suggest a compromise on
reparations.
Possibly that was what Mr. Molotov
intended. Soviet informants said he
had THE speech prepared for Thurs
days Council meeting but did not
get a chance to deliver it-or per-
haps was not ready to. Yesterday
according to this account, he tore
up the speech and substituted an
other. There was considerable spec
ulation that the Soviet Minister
acted on new instructions from the
Kremlin to revert to tougher tactics.
What he charged had all been
said by various Soviet officials or
propaganda agencies before. Mr.
Gee PIC EOTTp pooo aOl