Evening star., 1949-04-10
Russians Are Expected
To Start Phony Peace
Offensive on Germany
BY the AssoSicisc prsaa

BY the ASHcIIcisc PresS
/ Secretary of State Acheson
British Foreign Minister Bevir
and French Foreign Minister
Schuman agreed here last week
that Russia may set of a phony
peace offensive TO try TO wreck
the Vests new-found unity on
Germany.
Consequently while shaping
their own plans for Western Ger
many's reconstruction as a mem
Der of the non-Communist COM
munity~of nations. they determined
to be on their guard against some
tricky political assault from the
East.
. 1t was learned that the
Acheson Bevin Schuman talks
which ended Friday covered con-
sidersbly more ground with re-
spect to Germany than was dis
closed in the official communique.
Blockade Lifting Possible.
One of the questions considered
and officially kept in the secret
category was this: What should
be the attitude of the West If
the Soviets suddenly came up
with an announcement that they
were lifting the Berlin blockade
and were ready to talk about uni
fcation Of Germany as a whole?
Another issue raised, considered
and quietly filed away was whether
the Western powers should do
anything now about socializing
German industry. Bevin. as for
eign minister of Britain's socialis-
tic Labor government. advocated
the British Labor Party policy Of
naturalization of German iron,
coal and steel industries. Finally,
and reluctantly. he accepted as a
working principle the American
policy that such issues should be
left to the German people them
selves to decide when they have
government.
A third issue handled by refer
ring it to the future was the plan
of Mr.. Schuman to reshuf11e the
border between the French and
American zones of Germany SO
that 1t would in general be aligned
with the borders of German states
which it now cuts across.
Situation Left Unchanged.
In this case the decision was tc
leave the situation unchanged
until the creation of a West Ger
man government and tri-zona
fusion, probably next summer. A
that time. American officials be-
lieve, zonal boundaries will be-
come virtually meaningless any
way.
A fourth point not officially
announced yet was that the
United States obtained a predomi-
nant voive in German economic
affairs. This came about because
this country pays most OF the
bills to maintain the German
civilian economy. One report was
that in making economic decision!
in Allied control agencies for the
proposed trizone area the United
States is to have two votes to
one each for the British and
French. -s.s@..
The problem Of how TO deal
| with Russia was complicated by
the fact that no one in the West
ern camp knows even in general
way what the Soviets may dc
next.
The basic decision of the three
foreign ministers on this point
however. was that they should GO
forward with their own plans for
unifying Germany in spite of con-
tinuing Soviet opposition.
Door Open to Settlement.
A new situation would arise
only If the Russians suddenly
started trying to get friendly. In
that case, the United States,
Britain and France would close
no doors to a Russian settlement.
But they would regard any Rus
sian proposal with extreme sus-
picion and have to be convinced
of Moscow's sincerity.
The overall discussion led there
fore to a double-barrelled agree
ment insofar as Russia is con-
cerned in Germany:
Cd That the Western powers
will 60 forward with their own
plans without Russia, CD they will
wait and see what Russia does by
way of counter-moves. meanwhile
keeping their guard up and their
political power dry.
Secretary of State Acheson said
Friday he thought the whole COM