Evening star., 1949-06-01
Futility at Paris?

As far as the political uniication Of
Germany Is concerned, Mr.. Vishinsky's
latest remarks have breathed cold breath
on the Paris Conference Of Foreign Min
isters. Indeed, the Western proposal TO
merge all four zones under the democratic
Bonn Constitution has been 30 unquali-
hedly rejected that the whole meeting
conceivably may drift into as dreary q
.stalemate as the one In London In the
fall of 1047.
1t Is too early, however, to write oil the
meeting as total loss. To begin with, the
Western representatives have not been sur
prised by the rejection itself, the only thing
unexpected about 1t being Mr.. Vishinsky's
failure to couch 1t in language conciliatory
enough to suggest the possibility Of at least
little progress toward agreement. But
that fact, though discouraging, does not
necessarily mean that the Soviet Foreign
Minister has spoken the last word on the
subject or that he will not yet come for
ward with proposals enabling the Paris
Conference to deal constructively with
other items on its agenda, even II 1t makes
no headway toward unifying partitioned
Germany.
Thus, although the Russians may insist
on keeping the country politically divided,
with the Eastern Germans remaining
behind the Iron Curtain, the conference
may be able to break the Austrian dead
lock and work out an effective settlement
on Berlin's traffic and currency. In addi-
ton, as regards Germany as . whole. 1t
may be able to reach trade and other
economic agreements that could be mu-
tually beheflcial to Western Trizonia and
the Soviet zone Of occupation. AL this, of
course, would fall far short Of what Is
needed to solve the German problem, but
at least 1t would be better than nothing;
1t would be step in the right direction;
1t would constitute progress Of q sort that
might open the way to larger and more
important progress later.
This view may be wishful. Before the
Paris meeting closes, Mr.. Vishinsky may
adopt a line ruling out the possibility of
even small agreements. There Is some
reason to believe, however, that the Rus
SLAMS do not want the conference to peter
out in that way. After ALL in order to get
France, Britain and the United States to
join them in the session, they agreed to
lift the Berlin blockade, and they have
shown other indications of an anxiety for
some kind of understanding probably
economic-in the Foreign Ministers Coun-
ell. 1t is hard to believe, therefore, that
they are prepared now to let the talks
end In dismal failure. II so, why did
they ask for them In the first place?
In any event, no matter what happens
In Paris, the French, British and American
Governments have made clear that the
Western Germans will proceed without
interruption with the formation of a
democratic federal republic In line with
the Bonn Constitution. On the other
hand, through Mr.. Vishinsky, the Russians
have served notice that the Eastern Ger
mans will not be permitted to participate
In that enterprise. Two Germanys thus
will continue to exist for some time to
come, and as long as they do exist. q
genuine peace settlement will be impossible.
In the circumstances, the big question Is
whether the Paris meeting can agree on
subordinate problems and work out q
modus vivendi to prevent an intensifcation
Of the cold war. The answer depends in
large measure on what Mr.. Vishinsky has
to offer before the current conference ends.
If he has nothing to offer, there will be
little left to sustain the worlds hope for
lasting peace.