Evening star., 1947-10-19
By Cynthio Lowry


(SoDtet Foreign Mtnister.)
By Cynthio Lowry
vyacheslav Molotov, stern-faced
Soviet Commissar for Foreign Affairs.
is the star performer in Russia's
adaptation of an ancient dramatic
form at the council tables of diplo-
macy around the world.
Medieval italians wrote a type
of play called a "commedia Delarte, -
in which the playwright sketched
in the plot and outlined the pace
of the action; the actors themselves
ad libbed and improvised the busi-
ness.
The U. S. S. R. Commissariat for
Foreign Affairs today is the loud
talking cast in a serious drama
with world power as its theme
wrought by the all-powerful Com
munist politburo.
Besides Molotov, the principal
players are Andrei Vishinsky, Vice
Commissar; Andrei Gromyko, Rus
sia's permanent representative to
the United Nations; Ambassador
to France Alexandra Bogomolov, as
we'll as the less well-known Feodor
Gusev, Vladimir Dekanozov and
Jacob Malik. Each is a Deputy
Foreign Minister.
In the supporting cast are Nikolai
Novikov, Ambassador to the United
States; Georgi Zarubin, Ambassador
to Great Britain, and a host of
anonymous or little-known ambas-
sadors, ministers and consular
officials.
Gromyko Pleased the Bosses
1t is a vast, well-disciplined and
meticulously directed cast and the
penalties for fuffing lines or mis-
takes in Interpretation are heavy.
Similarly, the rewards for pleasing
the author-the commissariat is
concerned little or none with ap-
plause from the audience-are
lavish.
Gromyko, for example, was given
the stature of a deputy at the be-
ginning of the year, a recognition
of his performances as Ambassador
to the United States and as U. N
representative during the stormy
formative period.
The curtain is down perpetually
on the behind the scenes operations
of the Politburo, the 14-man Com
munist Party committee which con.
trolls the destinies of 196,000,0 ,00(
Russians. While its vast power does
not appear on the Soviet govern
ment's table tot organization, Polit-
buro decisions are absolute in con-
trolling the polices of the nation
The Politburo could only be COM
pared to the Executive Committee OF
the Republican or Democratic
Parties of the United States-n
a single political party existed ir
this country and had given to its
Executive Committee total author
ity over the military, police, diplo.
matte and legislative functions o1
the land.
Molotov, Soviet Foreign Minister
is member of this select inner
circle of Bolshevists and is con-
sidered by many as Stalin's hand
picked successor.
Litvinoff Drops Out
The steel-voiced, mustached Molo-
tov had long been an important, ii
shadowy, figure in the Communist
hierarchy when he suddenly sue
ceeded the veteran Maxim Litvin-
off as Foreign Minister in 1899
Litvinoff for years had been ar
ardent worker for peace and hao
advocated close-knit bonds among
Russia, Britain and the United
States.
| Almost on the heels of the re-
placement, Russia concluded non-
aggression pact with Hitler Ger.
many. The Politburo reshuff1ing o1
the actors in the whole cast was 8
major cleanout. Through the sue
ceeding years there have been nu-
merous retirements. In fact, the
mortality rate among high-rankine
diplomats in the Soviet Foreign Of
flee rivals that in Great Britain
France or the United States, whose
political compilations are infinitely
more subject to change.
Molotov stayed in Office, however
when Russia made war on Germany
Litvinof was busted off again ano
as Deputy Foreign Minister and
from 1941 to 1943-as Ambassador
to the United States went back te
the green baize tables as pro-
ponent of brotherhood among the
three strong nations. This lasted
only a few years and Litvinoff, now
over n, again has dropped from
sight.
Molotov Highly Rated
The Kremlin, beyond brief an
nouncements OF appointments, neve,
has divulged much about its modus
operandi. Recorded history of the
last few years, however, provides
numerous sign posts and hints.
Basically, the U. S. S. r. Foreign
Office appears little different in
makeup from Britain's Whitehall,
Frances Quai d'Orsay or the United
States State Department.
Molotov, as a member of the Polit-
|buro and longtime trusted associ-
ate of Stain Che has been disciple
and eo.uorker since 1ol2l ,1Y,dolIl,t-