Evening star., 1948-06-27
Reds Berlin Behavior
Seen As Possible Bid
For Big a Meeting
By John N. Hiehtower
A;I px... S4.ff W.itsx

American officials are studying the
possibility that the Russians may
be trying to force a revival OF Big
Four Foreign Minister negotiations
on Germany with their breakdown
on the Western powers in Berlin.
This speculation grows out of the
emphasis placed on Big -Four agree
ment in the communique issued at
Warsaw two days ago by Russia and
seven Eastern European satellite
states.
A review of the whole situation is
expected to be one of the top items
on Secretary of State Marshall's
calendar when he returns to work
tomorrow after week-long physical
'checkup at the Army's Walter Reed
Hospital.
The Berlin situation is regarded
here with the utmost seriousness.
Nevertheless officials at the State
Department, and evidently in the
defense ablishment as well, are
uniformly hopeful that the differ
ences between Russia and the West
ern nations will be resolved without
"a real danger of coming to blows.
Two Other Developments on Foot.
While Berlin conditions dominate
the diplomatic picture, two other
developments were under way over
the week end:
|. Final arrangements were made
for the signing or initiating by each
of the 16 Marshall Plan countries
of the permanent agreements under
which each will receive aid from the
United States. The first pacts will
be signed tomorrow. Agreements
which are merely initiated will not
be formally signed until after Par
lament as in the case of the British,
has given approval,
2 The State Department COM
pleted the draft OF a note to the
Russians rejecting their latest pro-
test-delivered about two weeks ago
against alledged war mongering"
in the United States. A magazine
article reporting on military plans
in event of a war with Russia bore
the burden of the Soviet blast. The
American rejection is expected to
De made public tomorrow or Tues
day.
American officials have been some
what puzzled by the narroWnesS of
the public announcement of the
Communist bloc conference in War
saw. BY yesterday they seemed
generally agreed, however, that it
failed completely to tell the whole
story of what happened or to make
any significant disclosure of any
future Russian Communist moves.
No Spotlight on Berlin.
/ The communiuue concentrated on
the German situation, without par
ticular emphasis on conditions In
Berlin. and called for Big -Four
agreement to set up government
over all Germany and for other
joint great power action to solve
the German problem.
Some diplomats said that the Of
fetal Warsaw statement could be
discounted as IS or 80 per cent
propaganda, designed to put the
blame for splitting Germany on the
Western powers and dramatize q
Russian desire for unity"
If there was any evidence that
the Soviets sincerely desired to
settle some of the practical Ger
man problems. Washington might
develop a willingness to do business.
However. there is no evidence that
Secretary Marshall would be will
ing at this time to meet with For
eign Ministers Molotov, Bevin and
Bidault Any real chance of talks
would have to be preceded by strong
signs of concessions on the part of
the Soviet Union at lower official
I level.