Evening star., 1948-10-15
Is Compromise Possible?


superficially at least. in their reply to
the mediation efforts of the Security
Councils six neutral" members, the Rus
slams do not seem to have budged an inch
from their position regarding the Berlin
blockade. Nevertheless, even though
France. Britain and the United States
appear to be equally adamant on their
side, Argentine Foreign Minister Bramug-
liza, the chief mediator, is said to be hopeful
that formula will yet be found to end the
grave deadlock without causing anybody
much loss of face.
As reported in broad terms from Paris,
the Russian position is that the blockade
will be lifted II two conditions are met.
The first condition is that the complaint
about the siege-filed by the Anglo-French-
American elegations-muSt be removed
from the agenda of the Security Council.
The second is that the western Powers
must recognize the validity of the Moscow
agreement of August 30-the directive
which provided that the blockade would
be ended after the military governors Of
Berlin worked out an understanding estab-
llSlllIlS d Clty-Wluc OONlct uliOC1
quadripartite control.
As against this, the Western position
may be summarized as follows: %
France Britain and the United States
recognized the validity of the August 80
agreement until Soviet Marshal sokolovsky
refused to honor it in Berlin; (2) since the
marshal would not have so acted without
,cfr prS hod
faith thus became clear; 90 hence the
filing of the Security Council complaint
citing the blockade as a violation of the
U. N. Charter and threat to world peace;
a. to negotiate under that threat would
be to negotiate under duress, which the
Western Powers will not do; accordingly,
(5) 1t must be lifted before there can be
any further four-power talks on either
the former German capital or Germany
as a whole.
These positions seem so Numerically
opposed that 1t Is difficult to see how Mr..
Bramuglia can still hope for face-saving
formula TO reconcile them. Yet 1t Is Just
barely possible that his small measure Of
optimism is not ill-founded. At any rate,
assuming that nobody wants war-and it
is hard to believe that anybody does-it is
obvious that both sides would be able to
breathe easier II there were no blockade
and therefore no danger of explosive Incl
dents. Wholly apart from eliminating the
heavy cost of the air lift, such a change
would greatly benefit the Western Powers
As for the Russians, 1t is worth remember
ing that they themselves are suffering from
their siege; it has made them less popular
than ever among the Germans, and it has
intensified the economic and political
strains in their zone of occupation now
being counterblockaded by us-a situation
in which they may be beginning to feel
like somebody cutting off his nose to spite
his face.
In view of such circumstances, certain
questions seem pertinent. Thus, is it con-
ceivable, as Mr.. Bramuglia seems to think,
that the Russians would really like to lift
the blockade If only they could do so with
out heavy loss of prestige? And If that
is how they feel, II they are anxious to
get back to the August 80 agreement with
Marshal Sokolovsky instructed to honor
it,, would not the West be wise, in ex-
change for an end to the siege, to revert
to that agreement and withdraw or in
definitely defer the complaint to the
Security Council? Or are matters too far
gone to permit compromise and prevent
showdown? Is Soviet good faith so
lacking that France, Britain and the
United States must refuse to shift from
their present position?
The situation is too involved and en-
bittered for easy answers. But If Mr..
Bramuglia has any basis for his hope, If
peaceful way out of the impasse is at
tainable, all parties concerned should exert
every effort in that direction The crisis
Is so deadly in its potentialities that none
Of the major powers can afford to be
stiff-necked about it. Certainly, If world
diplomacy is not resourceful enough to
meet and overcome this challenge, man
kind can look forward ITO little more than
dark and dangerous years ahead