Evening star., 1948-10-15
Formal Mediation
Seen Next u. n. Step
Over Reich Split
West. Soviet Unlikely
To Refuse Such an Offer
Despite Berlin Imposse
By David Laurence


failed but formal mediation has yet
to be tried. This is the next step
and It is difiicult to see how either
the Western powers or the Soviet
government can refuse to accede to
o mediation offer voted by formal
resolution of the United Nations.
What seems puzzling on the sur
face is that the Western powers are
reported adamant that they will not
negotiate or discuss q four-power
conference unless the blockade of
Berlin is first lifted, while the Rus
SLAMS are equally firm in their
declaration that the proposals on
the agenda of the United Nations
Security Council must be erased be-
fore they will negotiate a settlement
of the Berlin blockade and agree to
q simultaneous calling of a four
power conference on German ques-
tions.
When matters get into this kind
Of tangle, it is evident that someone
In some neutral government has to
take the initiative. The Argentine
foreign minister, DR.. Juan A. Bra
muglia, tried the informal approach.
He struck a stone wall on both sides.
This was natural, because there was
no leverage upon either side to COM
pei compromise and no urge to a
settlement of the outstanding is
sues because an apparent retreat or
concession might be involved.
Doomed to Failure.
It was a foregone conclusion,
therefore, that informal mediation
would get nowhere. AS the time for
O formal resolution Of mediation
draws near, however, certain terms
and conditions will have to be laid
down by the Security Council itself
as a basis for negotiation. Such a
resolution would be voted on by all
the members of the council present.
If Russia abstains from voting
altogether and a mediation reso-
luton proposes that the blockade be
lifted simultaneously with the call
ing of a four power conference,
this would come near to the Rus
sian position. It Is doubtful whether
the technical point that the U. N.
itself has proposed such a settle
ment would be enough to cause the
Soviets to reject the settlement, just
as it seems improbable that the
Western powers would stick to their
recently adopted determination that
the Berlin blockade must be lifted
even before there is an agreement
to hold four-power conference. It
Is conceivable that each side, in the
interest Of settlement, would con-
cede point in procedure.
II Russia succeeds in blocking a
resolution Of mediation by use of
the veto power-that is, If she can
prevent consideration-the whole
problem can then be transferred to
the Assembly. In the Assembly a
mediation proposal will be better re-
ceived and put. the Russians in an
tndefensible position in the court
OF world opinion.
Condemnation Step Unlikely.
While the Western Allies have
been talking about requesting a
u. N. resolution which would con-
demn Russia for having taken In
the Berlin blockade a step that is
threat to peace" it is doubtful
whether a resolution of condemna-
tion would actually aid in bringing
about a settlement. Russia would
take offense at that kind of resolu- |
ton and remove herself still further
from any possible area Of agreement
II the Western Allies wish to force
q showdown or a climax, the con-
demnatory resolution Is the natural
maneuver, but world opinion, es-
pecially in the smaller countries,
will not go along with the idea OF
q resolution condemning Russia as
threat to peace" unless some for
NAL mediation has been attempted
and has failed.
1t would seem, therefore, that the
Western Allies have more to gain
than lose by going along with a for
NAL resolution proposing a plan of
mediation and terms of settle
ment. If Russia goes on record as
rejecting such mediation when it
comes from the United Nations it
self, the chances of a condemnatory
resoluton being passed thereupon
will be enhanced.
The representatives of the >coun-
tries outside of the Big Four are in
an unhappy position about the
whole business. Some of them feel
that the issues are too narrow and
technical to be allowed to become
the basis of a major break and that
some means of composing the diff
Guilty should be and can be found.
It may even be that resolution of
condemnation would not get the
necessary votes at this time. That
is one reason why, after perhaps an
other informal mediation attempt
by the Swedish government, a for
NAL mediation plan may come as
the next move before the Security
Council.
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