Evening star., 1948-06-16
Danube Conference
To Provide Real Test
OF Soviet Intentions
By Gornett D. Horner

Indications of an apparent new
willingness by Moscow to compro-
mise on East-West differences were
seen today in Soviet acceptance of
an American proposal to call q
donation conference July so to
work out rules for free international
navigation on the Danube River.
The conference itself will involve
the real test of Soviet intentions,
however. It should demonstrate to
some degree whether the Russian
peace offensive" is all talk or
whether Moscow is ready for such
concrete action toward settlement
as President Truman and Secretary
of State Marshall have requested.
Secretary Marshall told a news
conference today that Russia's ac-
ceptance is good sign to the extent
that a refusal would have been a
very bad one.
He said his own hope is that the
Danube conference will be able to
work out a satisfactory agreement.
Austria to Have Say.
In agreeing to the conference pro-
posal, Russia accepted an Ameri-
can compromise suggestion concern
ing Austria. This Government has
insisted previously that Austria
should take full part in the Danube
conference Russia had opposed
any Austrian participation until
peace treaty with Austria is signed.
The latest American proposal
urged that Austria be permitted to
send representatives "at least on
consultative basis" The Soviet ac-
cepted this suggestion, giving Aus
tria nonvoting participation in the
conference.
Since the Big Four agreed in prin-
ciple 18 months ago to hold
Danube conference, it had been
planned to hold the sessions in Bel
grade. The United States proposal
was to call the conference there.
But Russia now says the Yugoslav
government doubts if the proper
facilities could be provided in its
capital. Moscow suggested the con-
ference be called July 80 in the cap
ital of some other Danubian country
In announcing the Soviet reply
yesterday, the State Department said
it was giving expeditions considera-
ton" to the communication.
Doe;l1e TIA Dir tho T1y,iSoI
States, Russia, Britain and France
nations to participate in the confer
ence are Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia.
Hungary, Romania, Yugoslavia and
Ukraine, with Austria on nom
voting basis.
Iron Curtain Divides Danube.
Peace treaties with Bulgaria, Hun
gary and Romania contain a clause
establishing the principle that
navigation on the Danube shall be
free and open" to the vessels and
commerce of all nations on an equal
footing. The Big -Four agreed in
December, 1916. that conference |,
to work out rules to put this prin-
ciple into practical operation should |
be held six months after the treaties |
took effect. Thus the conference |
was due to have been called by last 1
March Is. But action was blocked |
by disagreement on details such as
Austrian participation.
Ever since Europe was split into
separate occupation spheres, the |
Danube has been divided in effect
by an iron curtain at Linz, Austria. |
Shipping has moved both above and
below this point, but almost en-
tirely on local basis. Both the
Western powers and Russia and her
Eastern satellites have a stake in
reopening the river to full COM
merce, which, the State Depart
ment pointed out, would help i'm
prove the living standards of the
people in both parts of Europe.