Evening star., 1949-03-05
By the Associated Press

| BY the Associated Press
Vyacheslav Mikhailovich Molo-
tov, the retiring Soviet Foreign
Minister, now So, is one OF the
charter members of Russia's revo-
lutionaly hierarchy. His ad-
vancement to top spots in the
Soviet political picture was as me-
teoric as the progress of the Soviet
Onion itself.
At Is he began his revolution
ary career. Twenty-on years
later he became a full-fedged
member of the powerful Politburo.
In recent years MI. Molotov
carried the ball for Russia at all
major councils of foreign min
listers and was regarded as stolid
and imperturbable preacher of the
Soviet philosophy.
He took over the post of Foreign
CommiSsar Qater changed to For
eign Minister) on May 81. 1889
1t was turning point in history.
He rose to leadership in foreign
affairs upon the dismissal OF
Maxim Litvinoff, the man who ne
gotiated United States recognition
of Russia in 1888.
Signed German Pact.
At the time Mr.. Molotov took
over, Britain and France, without
the Soviet Union, had made what
they thought was a settlement of
the CZechoslovak question. They
had reached agreement with Adolf
Hitler and Benito Mussolini at
Munich.
August 81 of 1899, Mr.. Molotov
rocked the world by signing the
10-year nonaggression pact with
the German dictator. Joachim Won
Ribbintrop, Hitler's Foreign Min
lister, flew to Moscow and signed
the pact with Mr.. Molotov on
August "a.
The following week Nazi Ger
many launched World War II by
invading Poland. Mr.. Molotov
the bespectacled. professional
Communist orator. was at the helm
of RusSia's Foreign Ministry for
the strenuous seven years of war
During the war years. and dur
ing the postwar period which saw
the advent of the United Nations
he acquired a reputation among
Western diplomats of being one OF
the most stubborn and enigmatic
figures they had met Rarely did
he give an inch in debate. Never
did he veer from the rigid Soviet
line. Always he was polite but
firm.
At the wars end the inter-
national scene changed. No longer
were Russia and the West the
fast allies they had been during
the global conflict. Hardly had
the battles been won when Russia
and her allies in Eastern Europe
began accusing the great Western
powers of imperialist War-mong
ering.
Pressed Soviet Case.
In this period, Mr.. Molotov the
stubborn fighter, the old revolu-
tionary. pressed the Soviet case
before the councils of the world
With a deadpan face, with an all
of complete confidence. he ad-
hered strictly to the changing po-
litical line of Red Russia.
So noted was he for this
stubbornness that Senator Con-
nally, Democrat, of Texas, once
was moved to ask at a Paris con-
ference whether the Stocky
Molotov could say yes in any
language, including Russian.
Colorless, round-faced and un-
emotional, Mr.. Molotov' always
commanded respect from his
Western colleagues, whether it be
at Moscow. London, Paris. San
Francisco, New York, Yalta, Pots
dam, Teheran or Washington. But
despite this none of the foreign
dignitaries with whom he dealt
ever felt they truly know him
He remained the distant per-
sonality, in the tradition of the
Kremlin, in the tradition of the
men who followed him into the
world councils-the Vishinskys
and Gromykos.
Bound to POlitbur0.
It was generally agreed by the
men who argued with him that
he was firmly bound to instruc-
tions laid down by his comrades
on the Politburo in Moscow. And
whatever was Mr.. Molotov's role
in that powerful Soviet group
there was no question of his 10y
atty in following the preagreed
line.
In Moscow he was scarcely
known outside inner governmental.
circles except by name. His ap-
pearance is that of an ordinary
civil servant. In his dark busi-
ness suit and rimlesS eyeglasses he
frequently passed unrecognizec
among MoscoW's men-in-the-
street.
His given name at birth was
Scriabin. Molotov was the last
of lengthy list of pseudonyms
he took in his long career as
Communist revolutionary. This
last name he took. derived from
the Russian word "molot,' mean
ing hammer, was an appropriate
one for this expressionless fighter
in Russia's battle against the
West in the current history Of the
world.
The stolid, indefatigable little
Molotov is married and the father
of two daIghterS.