Evening star., 1948-07-27
|Al|ies.Repolrted
Planning Talks
with MoIotov
; ENJOYS in Moscow
| Expected to Present
| Berli. Ian InformuII,
By the Associi,ed Press

LONDON, July 27.-A diplo-
matte official said today the
Western powers have decided
that their Ambassadors will pre-
sent personally to Foreign Min
lister Molotov proposals for set
tling the Berlin crisis.
w. Bedell Smith and Sir Maurice
Peterson, the American and Brit
ish ENJOYS to Russia, both attended
a three-hour conference today Of
ranking diplomats of the three
Western powers.
The informant said that under
the agreed plan, the ambassadors
Of the United States, Britain and
France will present the views Of
their countries orally to Mr.. Molo-
tov on the Russian land blockade of
Berlin and the question of talks on
other German problems.
Offers Leeway for Accord.
This method, less formal than
another diplomatic note, Is viewed
as offering greater leeway in getting
an agreement. It avoids, in part at
least, the risk Of drawing another
formal diplomatic rejection.
(Of1cials in Washington pri-
vately confirmed that the west
ern Allies have decided on verbal
approach to Russia on Berlin in
order to have a freer hand in
bargaining and to avoid publicity
on the exchanges.)
1t was not disclosed whether the
ambassadors would present the
views individually or in a body.
Gen. Smith Tentatively is sched-
uled to fly back to Moscow today or
tomorrow.
Foreign Secretary Bevin will make
a statement in Parliament Thursday
on the general international situa-
ton. This will replace a foreign
affairs debate, originally scheduled
for Wednesday in the House Of
Commons, but Cancelled last night
after consultation of the Labor Gov
ernment and Conservative Party
leaders.
Mr.. Bevin has Cancelled plans to
leave this week for a three-week
vacation in Malta because of the
international situation. He will keep
In close touch with his office, lin
iting himself to brief trips to the
country and seaside.
Douglas and Strang Absent.
Present at today's conference were
Charles e. Bohlen, State Depart
ment counsellor; Gen. Smith, Pat
rick Dean of the British Foreign
Offices German section, Sir Maurice
and French Ambassador Rene Mas
sigli.
Missing from the usual lineup
were Lewis w. Douglas, American
Ambassador to Britain, and Sir Will
liam Strang, chief of the British
Foreign Ofice's German section.
Mr.. Douglas, Sir William and Mr..
Massigli have been the key figures
in drafting the actual terms of the
Western position in the Berlin crisis.
Several possible approaches to
Russia have been under discussion,
among them one directly to Premier
Stain himself. This, however, has
been set aside tentatively on the
theory it might exhaust q last
chance approach If the method now
being worked out fails.
New Notes Expected.
Diplomatic circles here believe the
method most likely to succeed would
be for presentation of the new pro-
posals to Mr.. Molotov in Moscow by
the Allied Ambassadors there.
1t was considered probable that
the three ambassadors, in that
event, would take with them In
structions to talk over privately
with Mr.. Molotov an agenda for
four power talks on general prob
lens of Germany as well as those
of Berlin alone.
Gen. Sir Brian Robertson, the
British military governor in Ger
many, flew here today. He saw
Strang this morning and was to
| talk with Mr.. Bevin.