Evening star., 1947-11-25
Mo|otov Agrees
ToDiscussion Of
'Byfnes Treaty.
Proposal Is Accepted
Unexpectedly at First
Session Of Big Four
BULLETIN.

lSteTS agreed To-Day on SIX
items for an agenda in their
talks on the German and Aus
trian peace settlements. For
eign Minister Moltov of Rus
sia unexpectedly accepted a
proposal to discuss the So
called "Byrnes treaty" plan to
assure German disarmament
and demilitarization.
By the Associated Press
LONDON, Nov. 25.-The Foreign
Ministers of the United States, Rus
sia. Great Britain and France to-
day started their second attempt
to frame a peace for Germany
despite the wide-open conflict be-
tween Russia and the western
powers over the economic and po-
litical future of Europe.
Secretary of State Marshall met
with Foreign Minister Molotov OF
Russia, Foreign Secretary Bevin. OF
Britain and Foreign Minister Bidault
of France in the blue and gold
council room of Lancaster House.
It was the first session of the
Council of Foreign Ministers since
the four adjourned their unsuccess-
full efforts at Moscow last April to
write a peace treaty for Austria and
unity Germany.
The conference opened against q
background of spreading strikes and
unrest in France and uprisings in
Italy which American diplomats
characterized as a RusSian-backed
campaign to embarrass Mr.. Bidault
and discourage Western European
cooperation with the Marshall plan
of aid to Europe.
Bevin and MolOtOv Confer.
A British informant said Mr..
Bevin and Mr.. Molotov had a "very
friendly" meeting last night and
agreed that unanimity is of "the
very highest Importance" to the
future of the world. Mr.. Bevin also
saw Gen. Marshall. Mr.. Bevin was
said by the informant to have
adopted a line more moderate"
than that of the American secretary.
Press dispatches from Berlin and
from the Moscow radio told
of a Soviet propaganda barrage
against American and British poll
cies In Germany, with emphasis on
Russia's demands for a direct
hanLi in control of the Ruhr, key
German industrial center in the
British occupation zone.
These Russian demands are ex-
pected to present a major issue here
in connection with the Big -Four ef-
forts to work out a formula for the
and political unification of
Program Is First Problem.
The first problem for the confer
ence was agreement on program of
work. Gen. Marshall and Mr.. Bevin
preferred to give priority to Austria.
Russian negotiators. in preliminary
planning, opposed this.
Associates said that what Gen.
and Mr.. Bevin wanted
mainly was an agreement that, if
the conference begged down on one
issue, it would move quickly to an
other.
Both Gen. Marshall and Mr.. Bevin
we're represented as entering the
meeting with a lets get down to
business" attitude.
American sources said Gen. Mar
shall went into the sessions with an
open mind and willingness to do
business.
Uniformed police guarded the
walls of Lancaster
House, former ducal palace. Plain
of Scotland Yards IA
nous special branch guarded the
halls and mingled with the crowd
as the ministers and their
advisers arrived.
Hundreds of onlookers had gath
cred along the street when Mr..
AsAOAO0oN dAA4NCO. 11C was LllC III
of the four to appear. Gen. Mar
shall drove up last.
Molotov Cheered Roundly.
Mr.. Molotov's limousine flew from
its hood the hammer and sickle of
the Soviet Union. He was cheered
roundly. He hastened into Lam
caster House without recognizing
the crowd.
Mr.. Bidault got little notice when
he drove up directly behind Mr..
Molotov. The crowd apparently did
not recognize him.
Mr.. Bevin, presiding officer for
the opening session, was cheered
when he arrived next. Gen. Mar
shall, last of all, received a loud
shout. The general raised his hat
to the crowd and smiled.
From the doorway, the Ministers
hurried across a red-carpeted hall,
up a Georgian grand stairway and
into the Council chamber where
(see BIG FOUR, Page A-5J
Ton.,,.,,n:e4 N;olnn~o