Evening star., 1949-03-06
GromykoIs Appointed Top Aide
Vishinsky in Foreign Office

COW IdOlO lduO4lIlS Ol tlc
announcement last night (early
Saturday. Moscow time).
1t was made In q Russian
language broadcast at dictation
speed Just after an English
language broadcast which said
the Soviet Union desires peace
and "unswervingly conducts q
policy Of cooperation among all
democratic countries, regardless
Of their internal social system"
The Kremlin has not explained
whether the fact the two pro-
nouncements moved close togeth-
er was significant. Nobody outside
the Kremlin walls can tell for q
certainty.
Official spokesmen for British
and European governments care
fully withheld official comment
until things have crystallized. But
informally they had plenty to say,
and most Of them saw nothing to
cause them to rejoice.
They noted that Communist
leaders outside Russia has adopted
a militant policy in recent weeks,
In sharp contrast to their earlier
declarations that there was no
reason why Communist and capt.
talist countries can't live peace
ably. Chiefs of the Communist
movement in France. Italy, Brit
ain, Germany, Austria and some
other places have changed the
theme to talk Of war. The French
Communist leader Maurice Thorez
started 1t of by saying Soviet
troops pursuing an aggressor on
French soil should be welcomed
by the people.
The diplomats said that looked
like a poor buildup for any spec
tacular peace gesture.
A source close to the British
Foreign Office saw little to choose
between the toughness of Mr..
Molotov and Mr.. Vishinsky. He
said one has expounded Politburo
policy as vigorously as the other.
and Mr.. Vishinsky Is not known
as a gentle man.
Reynaud Is Optimistic.
But Paul Reynaud, who was
wartime premier Of France, took
an optimistic slant nevertheless.
He said Mr.. Vishinsky's appoint
ment may be considered as the
sign Of change in Soviet foreign
policy at which the friends of
peace can only rejoice" He spec
ulated that Mr.. Mototov was re-
lieved because Of "a certain num-
ber of disappointments" over his
policies. Failure to stop the Vests
plans for a North Atlantic defense
pact, and failure to head off a
formation of a West German gov
ernment authorized by the West
ern occupation forces in Germany,
are two examples.
Officials in Austria, whose inde-
pendence treaty depends on solu-
ton of the Big Four deadlock in
talks at London, said privately
they do not expect Russia's rela-
tions with the West will ease.
Many European newspapers. as
their first reaction. speculated that
Mr.. Molotov had been fired. They
did not agree, however. on what
the shift means. Many Of them
counseled patience until some
body in the Kremlin tells q little
more.
Scandinavian countries, under
strong Russian pressure to stay
out Of the North Atlantic pact,
refrained from editorial comment.
The influential Aftontidningen Of
Stockholm. in a news story. how
ever, interpreted 1t "as a sign Of
a hardening Russian foreign
policy"
British papers used such head
lines as "Molotov Sacked" in their
first stories about the shuttle. The
Laborite London Daily Herald
suggested the appointment OF the
"eminently pugnacious Vishinsky'
did not indicate softening Soviet
attitude. The News Chronicle said
that ANY change Gin foreign
ministers) would seem to be a.
change for the better"