Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1948-09-23
Statement by Bevin
Must Have Left Most
Americans Abashed
No Responsible Official
In U. S. Hos Token People
Into His Confidence
Bv David Laurence

trif1e abashed when they read the
frank statement made by the Brit
ish Foreign Secretary, Ernest Bevin,
to, the House of Commons about the
fact that war with Russia is not
contemplated.
For certainly no responsible Off
cial OF the government of the
United States has taken the Ameri-
can people into his confidence and
made as explicit a declaration as is
contained in the following words
from Mr.. Bevin:
Il am not saying that we are
committed to war. We have not
reached that stage yet"
Here is authoritative assurance
that war is not Just around the
corner. Here is statement also
that there are other vital steps to
be taken before there can be any
commitment to war. Here also is
another way of saying that the
three major powers of the West
Great Britain, the United States
and France-have no idea at this
time Of presenting an ultimatum to
Russia or forcing showdown with
respect to the Berlin blockade.
Unity Statement Significant.
It is significant that Mr.. Bevin
also went on to say that the three
powers stand united in a firm re-
solve not to give up Berlin or to
yield to the efforts of the Commun-
list Government to squeeze the Allies
out OF the German capital by
means Of the rail blockade.
Speechmaking in the House of
Commons has for its main purpose
a desire to inform the British people
of what is going on but it has been
as often used in the past to tell
another foreign government that
matters have reached a serious
stage. The mere fact that Mr.. Bevin
was stating in a negative way that
the war stage had not yet been
reached was a warning to Russia
that the British people might have
been tnferring that war was pos
sibilitv as a result of the issues
arising out of the blockade in
Berlin.
The Bevin statement is the first
Of any consequence from the West
ern side since the negotiations be-
gan several weeks ago in an attempt
to find means OF lifting the block
ade 1t means that. while these
parleys have blown hot and cold,
they are not over vet. Another note
has been sent by all three Western
powers.
1t could be that the Bevin speech
adroitly conveyed the meaning that
might we'll have been intended by
a sharply worded note. When Mr.
Bevin stated unequivocally that
there was unity behind the reso-
luton to stay in Berlin, he was
notifying Russia publicly as to what
perhaps had been previously, told
Moscow authorities in private. Gov
ernments usually understand that a
position assumed in a diplomatic
exchange in secret may be changed,
but when a public commitment is
made 1t is not subject to change.
1t Is a way of saying that no back
ing down need be expected.
Many Steps Possible.
There are, Of course, many steps
that might be taken before a war
stage is reached. For one thing,
the United States is rapidly build
ing up the economic side of Western
Europe through the economic re-
covery program. Also there are
signs that infltration behind the
Iron Curtain" may come as
American dollars make themselves
felt throughout Europe. The rift in
Yugoslavia is symptom of Mos
cows troubles. Time is working for
the Western Allies and not for
Russia. The stronger Western ELL
rope becomes economical lily and mil
itarily, the harder will MoscoW's
task be.
Meanwhile, tie Conservative Par
BY, through its leader in London,
has said it will back Mr. Eeyin's
program whole heartedly. Bipartisan
cooperation is working in Britain
as in the United States. 1t is I'M
fortunate, however, that neither
President Truman nor Secretary of
State Marshall has been able to
give some direct word to the Ameri-
can people concerning relations
with Russia. But Mr.. Truman is
busy giving 'em hell''-meaning the
Republicans-on the stump. May
be, to his ambitions, that is at the
moment more important than
carrying on the business of foreign
misunderstanding which he del
,egates completely to others for the
good reason that he isn't too IA
miliar with such things.
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