Evening star., 1952-03-19
A Matter of Good Faith

Together with France and Britain the United
States has been making haste slowly in pre-
pairing reply to the Kremlins recent note on
Germany. The reply, which probably will be
delivered within matter Of days, is being drafted
with special care to insure that the Soviets will
not be able to distort or isrepresent it for prop
aganda purposes.
This careful approach Is sound because the
Russians have modified their past position on
the German question. The chief modification
q new party-line twist that has surprised and
momentarily confused the Communists of France
and other Western countries consists Of reg
treat from what used to be adamant opposition
to the idea OF letting Germany rearm in any way.
Thus, in its note to France, Britain and the
United States, the Soviet Union has requested
that Big Four Conference be held as soon as
possible to work out an agreement that would
bring about the following: ID The reunihcation
Of West Germany and East Germany on the basis
Of free" elections and (2) defnitiye peace
treaty under which the reunited nation, with its
sovereignty fully restored. would be permitted to
arm itself for its own defense
To all Germans-East and West-nothing is
more desirable than unifcatlon, and the latest
Soviet espousal of the idea, along with the
rearmament concession, is certain to have con-
siderable appeal throughout the partitioned
country. That is why the Anglo-French- Amer
ican reply must be carefully constructed. To
keep the Russians from gaining any propaganda
advantage, the Western Big Three, besides re-
emphasizing how they have been striving to end
the et-imposed partition, must avoid reject
ing the new note in totally negative manner.
There are several reasons, OF course. for
taking very dim view Of that note. In the first
place, in suddenly accepting the principle Of
German rearmament, the Russians have merely
tai 70 NJ
government is cooperating with the Big Three
to make West Germany an armed associate in
the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Further,
the Soviet concession is based on the condition
that the Germans must not be allowed to create
their own defensive forces until after they are
united and that they must not join any coalition
or alliance like NATO-a restriction whose effect
would be to stop everything now being done to
integrate them in the community of free Europe
and its projected internationalized army.
Even so, although the Kremlin's bid for Big
Four German conference thus has all the ear
marks of an effort aimed at upsetting the West
ern defense build-up, there is good reason why
the Anglo French American reply is likely to be
less than fiat rejection. What it is likely to be
is ansexpression of interest in the modified Soviet
position and q request for further clarifcation,
including Qualification of the Soviet attitude to-
ward genuinely free elections in Germany. =
The last point is especially important. An
international commission has been created by
the United Nations to determine the feasibility
of holding such elections at this time. But up
to now the commission-which Is in West Ger
many at present and which is supposed to be at
liberty to travel and observe conditions in all
parts of the country-has been opposed by the
Soviet Union. Is the opposition going to con-
tinue? or is the Krenlin prepared to cooperate
for really free vote under U. N. supervision?
This is question that can be put directly
to the Russians in the Anglo French American
reply. Until they give an affirmative answer,
there can hardly be an agreement on Big Four
German conference. Meanwhile, however the
Western Powers will be wise-at least from the
standpoint of countering Red propaganda in
Germany-to make clear that they are keeping
the door open and that reunif1cation will be
possible Just as soon as the Kremlin makes up
its mind to act in good faith.