Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1948-08-05
VituI to Western Diplomacy

AS long as secrecy surrounds tne oencd1e
conversations between the Western powers
and Moscow, the average citizen can do no
more than speculate without going to ex-
tremes The situation calls for middle
ground temper between optimism ana
pessimism Thus far, about the only in
formation vouchsafed us has had to do
with the possibly significant smiles OF
the Anglo-French-Ame ambassadors
after their visit with Generalissimo Stain.
Meanwhile, in other parts of the world
notably<at the Danubian Conference in
Belgrade there has been little indication
of any softening in the Russian attitude.
In the circumstances, loud cheers would
seem to be as unjustifled as excessive
gloom.
Nevertheless, even though optimism
thus must be restrained, the EaSt-West
tension over the Berlin crisis obviously has
leSsened. Hardly week ago, before the
ambassadorial activity in Moscow, that
crisis seemed to be heading swiftly toward
a military explosion. But today, at least
as far as appearances are concerned, the
atmosphere sis much less sulphurous, and
there is reason to hope that diplomacy
situation. Certainly, if the Russians lift
their blockade of the former German cap
ital in exchange for Western offers to
engage in new four-power conference on
Germany as whole, it ought not to be
beyond the capacity of craftsmanship to
work out a formula under which the
pressures leading toward war can be
definitely, and perhaps permanently,
checked.
In terms of the near future, of course,
1t seems too much to expect that there can
be any ver-all settlement of the basic
differences existing between Russia and
the Western democracies in virtually every
region of the globe 1t is practically GER
tain, for example, that new conference
on Germany will get nowhere if the Rus
slams refuse to retreat from their demand
for a voice and veto4on the disposition OF
the Ruhr's production, and the same holds
true for their apparent desire to pave the
way-juSt as in Korea-for the eventual
creation of German satellite government
run by Communists taking their orders
from Moscow. In short, unless the Soviet
Union is prepared to modify its past policy
on these and other major issues the world
must look forward to continuation of
international tension for a considerable
time to come.
To say this, however, is not to suggest
that the situation will prove basically
hopeless when and if another four-poWer
German conference is held. For the very
calling of such a conference will indicate
that Russia, probably not less than the
Western powers, is anxious for some kind
OF moduS vivendi capable OF keeping events
from drifting into war. In other words,
even with continued failure to achieve
good agreement on Germany, it should
still be possible to formulate working
Arrangement under which East and West,
despite the gulf between them, could avert
armed conflict and win time for diplomatic
processes aimed at promoting an eventual
settlement for an enduring peace.
Such a modus vivendi requires that the
West get back on its feet To that end
the Ruhrs production must be integrated
with the European Recovery Program,
Germany must be unified as much as pos
sible, and Britain, France and the Benelux
countries, with whatever American sup
port may be necessary, must move closer
and closer toward union. Irrespective of
any new talks with Russia, these measures
must be carried out with unheSitating
vigor, for they are essential to a wholesome
balance of power and vital to the di-
plomacy of the free world. without them,
the Kremlin would consider itself con-
fronted with weakness and hence would
be disinclined to negotiate on an honest
:oL, ri
peace Is ever to be had.