Evening star., 1947-11-25
Not the Lost Chance

The COunc1 OF FOrelRn MINISTERS DeelllS
; It's deliberations in London today against
a background of events that have placed
an almost excruciating strain on the nerves
of crisis weary, peace-hungry world. The
atmosphere could hardly be more pessi-
mstic or funereal. Nowhere is there
word of cheer regarding the outlook Even
as it starts, this latest effort to bridge the
dark gulf between East and West is widely
described as a last chance" foredoomed
to failure-a meeting that can end only
in emphasizing and formalizing the cir
reconcilable" nature of Russian policy on
the one hand and Anglo-French-Amer
policy on the other.
This gloom, moreover, is supported by
many facts. For months now the Soviet
Union has been waging an unrestrained
campaign of vilifcation against the mo-
tives and aims of the French, British and
American governments, and it has frankly
acknowledged that it is out to wreck the
long-range European Recovery Program
the so-called Marshal plan. AS for the
Immediate objectives of the London Con-
ference, the Russians have refused to
agree even on the agenda to be followed.
Judging from the signs the only thing
they seem to want is to continue to block
action on peace settlements for Austria
and Germany. with the larger end in view
of prolonging and intensifying the kind of
chaotic conditions that can help to spread
the Kremlin's dominance over the whole
continent.
BY way of contrast, France, Britain and
the United States see eye to eye on the
essentials of the work that should be done
now in London. They agree that the
Council of Foreign Ministers should settle
the question of treaty for Austria with
out further delay-a treaty that would %
end the occupation, (2) speed the with
draWal of Red Army troops stationed in
Hungary and Romania to protect" Soviet
lines of communication and 80 thus
lessen present economic and political alb
norma1ities in large area of Europe.
Next, the three western powers are anxious
to have the current conference make
definite beginning on a German settle
ment, more or less like the one proposed
by Secretary Marshal-a settlement under
which the economy of Germany would be
revitalized for the benefit of all of Europe,
but which would guard against resurgent
militarism through a federal form of
government. special controls over the
industrial Ruhr, and a 40-year Anglo
French Russian American pact to keep
the country disarmed
Unfortunately, however, there is no ex-
pectation in London today that Foreign
Minister Molotov will suddenly reverse
Soviet policy and start cooperating with
the west. The only expectation is that he
will do the expected thing. In the case of
Austria, the expected thing is that he will
insist, as usual, on wholly unreasonable
and unjust definition of the country's
German assets"-a definition under which
Russia would, acquire large and perma-
nent voice in the control of the Austrian
economy. AS for Germany, the signs in
dicate that he will not deviate from his
stubborn opposition to Secretary Mar
shalps proposals or from his old demand
for Kremlin participation in running the
Ruhr and for $40 OOO, 900 in reparations
"a demand which he knows to be
altogether unacceptable.
So. unless the unexpected occurs, the