Evening star., 1951-03-02
U. 5. Delegates Leave
For Big -Four Farley
SkepticaI Of Success
By Gornett D. HorHer

work out with Russian, British and
French representatives a "mu-
tually acceptable basis" for later
conference of the Big Four For
eign Ministers in Washington.
Convinced that the Soviet aim
Is only to set the stage for a new
propaganda offensive against the
Western defense effort. Ameri-
can officials see little chance of
any real peace talks" resulting
from the negotiations.
They decided to go ahead with
the preliminary meeting in Paris
Monday, however. SO as. not to
miss any possible chance of easing
war-threatening tensions in Eu-
rope through talking with the
Russians.
The main task of the Paris
meeting is to fix an agenda for
the projected Foreign Ministers
conference. Russia first proposed
a conference to discuss demilitari-
zation of Germany. The three
Western powers insist that it
cover a much broader field of the
''real causes" of tension in Europe,
including the huge armies of Rus
sia and her satellites.
Date Accepted Flatly.
In proposing the preliminary
Paris meeting in February 10
notes, the Western powers made
this conditional on prior Soviet
agreement to such a broadened
discussion program. 49,.
Moscow caused some confusion
yesterday by replying with fiat
acceptance of the Paris meeting
date, without saying anything
specifically about agreement with
the Western conditions.
After hurried consultation with
the British and French govern
ments, the State Department an
nounced late yesterday that the
Soviet note was ION its face an
acceptance" of the Western pro-
posal.
Michael J. McDermott, State
Department press officer, empha-
sized that "this proposal spe-
cif1cally requires that the agenda
be broadened to include the real
causes of tension in Europe and
cannot be limited to the Soviet
label of the so-called 'demilitari-
cation Of Germany"
No Change of Attitude.
Mr.. McDermott began his an
nouncement with this warning
against optimism:
1.-The Soviet note does not sug-
gest any real change of attitude
on their part which would en-
courage the hope that the four
ministers would be able to reach
useful agreements"
II the four-power representa-
tives are able to agree on basis
for the Foreign Ministers con-
ference, they are expected to set
a date sometime in April for the
ministers to meet in Washing
ton, -.
Philip c. Jessup, American
Ambassador at Large. will re-
present Secretary of State Ache
son at the Paris meeting. He
headed q delegation leaving here
at noon today by train for New
York, where it will board a plane
tonight for Paris. Charles E.
Bohlen. American Minister in
Paris, will be Mr.. Jessup's top
assistant.
Gromyko Heads Russians.
Among those in the delegation
from the State Department are
Perry Laukhuff, director of the
{ Once Of German Political Affairs;
Bromley Smith, special assistant
to Secretary Acheson; Melvin L.
Manfull, Arthur c. Nagle, Robbins
p. Gilman, Miss Teresa Beach,
Miss Ellen Burton and Miss Su-
san Shields.
From Moscow came word that
Andrei Gromyko the first deputy
of Soviet Foreign Minister Andrei
Vishinsky, will head a delegation
of 20 Russians to the Paris ses-
sion. The Russians plan to fly to
Paris tomorrow.
The French group, Paris dis
closed, will be headed by Alexan-
DIRE Parodi. one of Frances top
diplomats.