Evening star., 1948-09-29
u. n. Can Order Talks
To Resume Between
Soviet and the West
IdeoI Way Out Possible
If Temporary Conditions
Precede Mediation
Bv David Laurence

BY David Laurence
If there isn't to be war, what Is
the way out? This question comes
as logical sequel to the oft-heard
comments hereabouts that, of
course, Russia will not press her
harassment In Berlin to the point
of forcing an open conflict.
There are various ways of dispos-
ing of the dispute without humila-
ton to any nation. A formula OF
this nature is always an important
consideration in attempting to COM
pose international friction.
Unfortunately, pride enters into
controversies TO the degree that
partisans in each country insist
there can be no recession or even
modification Of position adopted.
Thus one explanation for the right
-about-face which Stain took after
agreeing to a lifting of the block
ade was the pressure from his own
Community Party leaders that such
a move would be interpreted as a
confession of error and diplomatic
defeat.
Ideal Way Out Possible.
The ideal way out OF acute dis
putes OF this kind Is to achieve
solution that doesn't offend the
sensibilities on either side
Such procedure could come
about If the United Nations. after
hearing the full debate on the is
sues, ordered a form of mediation
in which both sides accept certain
conditions temporarily pending the
outcome of the mediation.
If the United Nations is to sue
ceed as an instrumentality oil
peace-making, it must look on the
friction Between Russia, on the one
hand, and the three Western Pow
ers on the other, as IN the same
categories as any other dispute
that threatens peace or an outbreak
OF armed conflict.
The first step in mediation is to
achieve the status quo or condl-
ton which will permit further nego-
tiation.
1t is apparent from reading OF
the white paper given out by the
State Department here that the
United States did not wish to
negotiate under duress' and in
sisted on q lifting OF the blockade
as a prerequisite to a discussion OF
all-over issues that are really in the
BACKGROUND of the whole dispute
between the East and West.
The Western powers did never
theless negotiate under duress as
The evidence of recent weeks plainly
discloses. Just why the Allies did
not request a Temporary" lifting
of the blockade, with the under
standing that other questions would
then be explored, is difficult to un-
derstand. 1t could have been agreed
at the same time that such ITEM
porary" solution was not to be re-
earded as prejudicing the eventual
position of either side in the negotla-
tions.
IT NAV be that the Allied spokes-
men were more concerned with
pride of public position on the Berlin
blockade than with the broad ques-
tions that must be settled II Incl
dents like the Berlin blockade are
to be ended.
Lawyer-Like Approach.
Thus. for instance, 1t is stated that
a fundamental position taken by
the Western representatives was
that the blockade was illegal and
that to concede it even on a tenn
porary basis would have been to
condone illegality. The trouble with
That argument is that the world
isn't interested in lawyer-like ap-
nroaches to a negotiation that could
conceivably, If it collapsed. bring
bloodshed once more to countess
numbers of young men.
The issues are too important to
be allowed to become acute on mar
row or technical grounds.
The big question at issue Is What
shall be the future OF Germany
The Western Allies and Russia must
come to grips on that sooner or
later and take a stand which will
0f tuSblllGu NAlt VI 'N
No such fundamental position has
been taken since the wars end.
Instead, there have been rival plans
concerning the future OF Germany
ranging all the way from dismem-. :.
berment to ruralization. 1t seems
incredible that the Western repre-
sentatives should not have come to
an agreement as to whether Ger
many must be restored to the fam
lily Of nations as a potential ally in
the world union against aggression
by any power or whether Germany
shall continue as a country kept in
a turmoil between East and West
and ultimately furnishing the cause
of another world war.
There is considerable basis for fur
ther negotiation, and the U. N. can
order both sides to resume diplo-
matte discussions, with the blockade
lifted until such time as settlement
of the broader issues in controversy
has been made.