Evening star., 1948-05-12
Milestone Is Reached
In Cold War Between
Russia and America
Which One Beeon Move
Toward Understanding
Matters But Little
By David La,prence

Matters But Little
By Dapid Laurence
A milestone has been reached In
the tortuous roads that have beer
Travelled in the "cold war" between
Russia and the United States.
Today at last the voice OF reason
speaks. Both countries through
their official spokesmen significantly
disclaim any responsibility for the
present status of tension between
them and both say they want to fine
a reasonable basis for discussing
their outstanding differences.
This Is no time, therefore, for ex-
pressions of the chip-on-the-shoul-
der variety which emanate from
propaganda sources. Thus from
abroad Russian satellite state!
propaganda construes the American
note as a confession of guilt and 9
sign Of weakness. Likewise, some
intimations from anonymous spokes-
men In the State Department con-
vey the idea that the United States
isn't interested in remaining in 9
"stratosphere Of glittering general
tiles"
What Is important Is the overall
situation which has changed from
feeling of hopelessness and belief
in the futility of negotiations to ar
assumption that maybe diplomacy
might work out a settlement after
all.
Which Took Initiative?
II doesn't matter much which
country took the initiative. Last
January Russia tried to initiate
conversations through Ambassador
Murphy in Berlin. For reasons best
known to the American Government
at the time, the Russian invitation
was not accepted.
Today the United States Govern
ment is revealed as having taken
the initiative on May 4 last. The
United States presented a review OF
its policy and defended It's course
But the United States then said to
Russia through our Ambassador In
words that may become historic:
1--WE still do not despair by any
means OF a turn of events which will
permit us to find the road to a
decent and reasonable relationship
between our two countries with a
fundamental relaxation OF those
tensions which today exercise so
unhappy an influence on inter-
national society everywhere. AS far
as the United States is concerned
the door is always wide open for full
discussion and the composing OF
our differences.
my Government earnestly hopes
that the members of the Soviet gov
ernment will not take lightly the
position of the United States Gov
ernment, as here expressed. They
have it in their power to alleviate
many OF the situations which today
weigh so heavily on all international
life.
"It is our earnest hope that they
will take advantage OF these posi-
hilities. If they do, they will not
find lis lacking In readiness and
eagerness to make our own con-
tribution to stabilization of world
conditions entirely compatible with
the security of the Soviet peoples. "
The key words in the foregoing
ere readiness and eagerness' and
also compatible with the security
of the Soviet peoples
Hardest Task Ahead.
The American Government has
made a real gesture toward ending
the cold war" But the hardest
task lies ahead. Quibbling and
pickering and overemphasis on
tpchnicalities have blocked and
frustrated discussions before If the
two countries really want to make
an overall settlement, they must
realistically rise above detail and
come to grips with basic principles
Likewise, there are many people
In America who feel that a mere
agreement in writing is not enough
and that there must be further
evidence of good faith. This means
deeds. It means a cessation of petty
ouarrelling over inspections et
traffic in Berlin and Vienna. II
means cessation of communistic
threats to constituted governments
in Europe and elsewhere.
Psychologically, the Russians
grabbed the spotlight by taking an
American diplomatic note not in
tended for publicity and broadcast
ing it over the radio. This indicates
that the Russians have been wait
ing for chance to start peace dis
cussions. But 1t also produces its
embarraSsments for those here who
have been talking as If war with
Russia were imminent. 1t certainly
puts damper on plans to revive
the draft-though unless manpower
is available, the big appropriations
for armament cannot be effectively
spent. Also there is the matter of
lend-lease help to the military
alliance in Western Europe. 1t
cramps the style of those who
wanted to go further in that direc-
tion at this time.
Russia doubtless has acted in the
nick of time from her own stand
point-an effort to halt the alliance
from developing. Until there is
evidence of a change in deeds by
Russia, as well as words, however,
the military preparedness program
here will probably continue as
Planned. In fact, defenders of that
doctrine feel the Russian initiative
Is sign that the military y-prepared-
ness attitude of the United States
has brought results. The atmos-
phere is still surcharged with mu-
tual suspicion and distrust.
Reproduction Rights Reseryed)