Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-05-03
Beyond Berlin

If the Berlin blockade Is. lifted soon
as seems probable at the moment-the
event, besides saving the United States
about 100000 day in airlift expendi-
lures, will remove one OF the most
dangerous points of friction in the cold
war. If and when 1t takes place, how
ever, that development, despite its i'm
portance, will amount to little more than
q hopeful first step on the long and
difficult road that almost certainly Will
have to be travelled before there can be
any genuine understanding between the
Soviet Union and the West
Thus, assuming that all goes well with
the current American-Russian negotia-
tions, the blockade's end will be followed
by a new meeting Of the Big Four Council
of Foreign Ministers to deal with the
problem of Germany as whole. That
is where the hard going will really begin.
Indeed, unless the Russians are prepared
to make fundamental revisions in their
past approach to the subject, the chances
are that the projected conference, like its
predecessors, will end in futility, leaving
Europe without sound German settle
ment, and hence without foundations Tor
an enduring peace.
Up to now, as set forth last year In the
so-called Warsaw Declaration, the Soviet
Union has held fast to certain proposals
altogether unacceptable to the Western
Allies as basis for German settlement
The proposals have included Cd that there
be set up In Germany, presumably in
Berlin, a provisional regime on which to
build a strong centralized government;
Cd that a def1nitive peace treaty be
written and all occupation forces with
drawn; and 60 that the industrial Ruhr,
now under Anglo American-French con-
troll be placed for a time under four
power supervision, with Russia given a
voice and a veto in determining the
distribution of the regions production.
With all the sad experience they have
had with the Soviet veto in Berlin. it is
understandable why the Western Allies
cannot as a matter OF self-interest ana
common sense. pay serious attention to
proposal that would empower the Russians
to breed chaos and paralysis In the Ruhr.
Similarly in connection with the proposals
for a provisional government. for final
peace treaty and for the withdrawal OF
occupation troops, France, Britain and the
United States have every reason to be
wary. What they must make sure OF is
that any such measures, If something like
them can be agreed upon, must be backed
up by ironclad guarantees against the
possibility that well-disciplined German
Communists-by means of political trickery
and force-will be able eventually to stage
a coup calculated to put Germany in the
Kremlin's pocket.
Accordingly, If they are acting in good
faith for fair settlements may well
be the case-the Russians will have to
retreat rather markedly from their past
position If the proposed Foreign Ministers
meeting is to accomplish anything. To-
gether with the Germans at Bonn, France,
Britain and the United States have already
laid the groundwork for free federal
republic of Western Germany, and as
Secretary Acheson declared the other day
there can be no interruption in that
project at this particular moment; nor
can there be any settlement for thu