Evening star., 1949-03-05
u. 5. Po|icy-Makers
Not Clear on Meaning
.0f Soviet Shakeup
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VI JOvlel JIldkeup
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pact. or to drive the Western pow
ers out of Berlin.
Stays in Politburo.
In London a source close to the
British Foreign Office noted that
Mr.. Molotov apparently still re-
mains a deputy prime minister
and member of the ruling Polit-
buro which determines Russia S
policy. He said he believed the
move would strengthen Mr.. Molo-
tov's position, making him some
sort of general supervisor of for
eign policy
The first reaction of many
European newspapers was that
Mr.. Molotov had been fired for
failing to block the anti-Com-
munist North Atlantic pact and
the European Recovery Program.
British official circles speculated
more cautiously that aging Prime
Minister Stain might be getting
ready to hand over power to his
chief deputy.
Some British diplomats, disiilu-
stoned after four years of fruitless
dealings with Russian leaders,
privately were skeptical that the
Molotov shift meant a change to
a softer Soviet policy.
The semiofhcial French news
agency said French official circles
consider the Kremlin shakeup
essentially an internal affair"
Italian reaction was mixed, like
that of all Europe. An informed
source close to the Italian Foreign
Ministry said Russian hostility
toward the West will not change
greatly"
Austrian officials, with their in
dependence treaty depending on
stalemated Big Four talks in Lon
don, said privately they did not
think Russia's relations with the
West will be eased.
Communist newspapers ran the
Moscow announcement without
comment.
Vishinsky Could Shift Policy.
Those in Washington who have
tried to do business with both
Mr.. Molotov and Mr.. Vishinsky
believe that if the Kremlin
wants to undertake a new line
of tactical cooperation with
the West and ease the cold war
tension, Mr.. Vishinsky probably
could do better job than Mr..
Molotov because of his greater
f1exibility of mind. skill in argu-
ment and personal charm.
While Mr.. Vishinsky started the
war mongering" attack on Amer
ican leaders and has been a Wit
operative opponent of Western
views, those who know him believe
it would be easier for him to
change tactics than for Mr.
Molotov to do so.
On the other hand, he could
just as easily oversee an intensi-
fcation of the cold war.
Shift in 1899 Recalled.
Observers recalled that Soviet
diplomacy underwent a drastic
change the last time there
was a change in foreign min
listers. That was in 1899 when
Mr.. Molotov replaced Maxim
Litvinov, who had been an
exponent of cooperation with
the Western powers for mainten-
ance of peace. Soon after Mr.
Molotov came to power. he signed
the non-aggression pact with
Hitler that cleared the way for
Germany to invade Poland.
If there is change now
authorities here felt sure it would
be only in tactics-not affecting
the fundamental Soviet objective
to Communize the world.
President Truman has spoken
in recent months of a possible
split in the Soviet Politburo. But
his own top advisers on Russia
do not believe there is any split
over Russia's revolutionary world
objective, although there may be
differences of opinion over timing
and tactics.
Dim View Is Taken.
Most members of Congress who
would comment publicly took q
DINNER view.
Senator Smith, Republican. of
New Jersey, a member of the
Senate Foreign Relations Com
mittee, said Il don't get very much
cheer from the fact that Mr.
Vishinsky, who has been very
difficult, is succeeding Mr.. Molotov
who also has been very difficult" "
With Vishinsky succeeding
Molotov, said Senator Flanders,
Republican, of Vermont, 'it looks
as though there will be no mollify-
ing of the Molotov policy"
Senator Ferguson, Republican,
of Michigan said the change may
prove to be a change for the
worse"
Representative Lawrence Smith,
Republican, of Wisconsin is look
ing for some drastic move" He
said: Il think if anything it will
be a military move. wouldn't be
surprised to see the Russians go
into Helsinki and Norway also"
Visited Here Three Times.
Mr.. Molotov visited here three
times as Soviet Foreign Minister.
He first was here in 1912 incog-
nito as "Mr. Brown" He was back
II, NH1conu, haf1ra y; civ Io1y Cd