Roanoke Rapids daily herald., 1948-09-19
Showdown on
Berlin Nav
Come in Paris

Washington, Sept. 18 - (AP)
- Secretary Of State Marshall
flies to Paris tomorrow for a I'm
tied Nations Assembly meeting
that may produce a fateful show
down with Russia over the block
ade of Berlin.
Whether this showdown actu-
ally occurs probably was de-
termined to a considerable de-
gree in Moscow today at meet
ing between Soviet Foreign
Minister Molotov and the enjoys
of America, Mritain and France.
Molotov was expected to indi-
cate finally Russia's attitude to-
ward lifting the blockade. There
was intense interest here as to
whether the Russian leader
would say "yes", mo" or try to
stall off the day of decision a.
while longer.
Molotov as well as Marshall,
Britain's Foreign Minister Be-
vim and the French Foreign Min
lister are all due to be in Paris
at the same time. There has been
considerable speculation here
that the Moscow talks on the
Berlin crisis might be taken up
directly by these top level min
listers in informal talks outside
the United Nations session. How
ever, it can be reported on ex-
cellent authority that up to today
no plan had been made for any
) big four foreign ministers dis
cussion of the Berlin crisis. Re-
sponsible American officials
were notably unenthusastic a.
bout the idea, contending that if
Molotov wants to arrange any
high level conference on Germ
any he must first lift the block
ade.
What seemed more likely, ac-
formants here, was that Molotov
formals here, was that Molotov
J would either stall for time or
else take a negative attitude
toward lifting the blockade. In
that case the western foreign
ministers would have to decide
among themselves in Paris what
moves they should take in plac-
ing Russia's Berlin policy on trial
y, before the world by bringing
Charges formally m the United
Nations assembly.
There was no doubt that in ad-
J vance of final reports from to-
days talks with Molotov, auth
critics here were quite pressim-
lstic about successful end to
the Moscow negotiation. Marshall
himself had made this clear at
a news conference Wednesday.
Marshall will leave at, IL noon
Eastern Standard Time Sunday
fly to Newfoundland for refue1ing
and then 60 directly to Paris. He
is using President Truman's per-
4 sonal aircraft, the independence,
and his travelling companions
will include Mrs. Marshall, State
Department Counselor Charles
E. Bohlen and Mrs. Bohlen.
The duration of Marshalls stay
we'll and he can arrange to do so
wei and he can arrange to do SO
he may return here in three or
four weeks.
Officials advising Marshall
show every evidence of not want
Ding to force a showdown with
Russia unless events compel it.
This weeks negotiations in Mos
COW represented an effort on the
part of the western powers to find
way out of the impasse created
when the Russian military COM
mander in Berlin blocked final
agreement on currency problems
and consequent lifting of the
blockade last week.
AS result, on Tuesday, the
ENJOYS asked the Rus
sia government in the person
Of Molotov to straIgnten out
Marshal V. D.Sokolovsky, the
Soviet Berlin commander, on
what he was committed to do
under an agreement which the
western powers made in Moscow
more than two weeks ago with
Stain. This agreement was sup
scsted to end the blockade.