Evening star., 1952-06-15
BY John N. Hiehtower
Asseeiated Press Stoff Writer


A reshuffle of Soviet diplomats
involving key world capitals alert
ed the United States and other
Western governments yesterday
for possible major Russian polit-
1cal move in the cold war.
Most authorities centered their
attention on the possibility Of a
supreme new effort by Moscow to
split apart Britain and the United
States. and thereby destroy West
ern unity, which is the basis for
defense against expanding Soviet
power.
Belief that this may be the
Soviet intention was shown in
speculation here and abroad on
two developments: (A) A kind Of
neutralism is developing in a pow
erful faction of the British Labor
Party led by Aneurin Bevan, and
(B) The most significant change
in the new Russian assignments
is the naming of Deputy Foreign
Minister Andrei Gromyko as Am
bassador to London.
Peace Offensive Hinted.
Western observers regarded the
Gromyko appointment as cal
culated move aimed at bettering
relations with the British.
London reaction was that a new
Russian peace offensive was in the
making. The independent news
paper Daily Express said a full
scale peace drive was not ruled
out in British government circles
and "if the Western powers are
satisfied it is genuine, it will be
considered"
Mr.. Gromyko is described as the
No. 3 man in upper ranks Of the
Red leaders who control Soviet
foreign policy. Above him have
been former Foreign Minister v.
M. Molotov, now a member of the
Politburo and Deputy Prime Min
lister, and the present Foreign
Minister, Andrei Vishinsky.
Experts on Russian affairs, how
ever, said some authorities regard
Mr.. Gromyko as smart and per-
haps more powerful even than Mr..
Vishinsky. In any case, the men
in the Kremlin have picked one of
their most trusted and influential
career diplomats for the London
assignment.
His selection comes at a time
when a number of strains and
stresses are developing in relations
of the principal Western powers.
No Hints of Purpose Given.
While speculating along this
line, American experts said that as
usual the Soviets had given no
clear indication of what they may
be planning. They said any con-
clusions drawn now on the basis
of assignment of new ENJOYS to
London, Washington, the German
Communist government at Berlin,
and the Red China capital of Pei
ping can at best be only tentative
and subject to revision.
AS an alternative to the theory
Of an immediate attack on West
ern unity. which long has been
regarded by Western statesmen as
a major aim of Soviet diplomacy
they mentioned the possibility
that the Kremlin may be planning
to seek relaxation in world ten
sions and to that end may desire
to put new faces on it's diplomacy
In each Of the capitals concerned
Move Stirs Diplomats.
Mr.. Gromyko's appointment to
London, announced Friday night
captured the imagination Of West
ern diplomats because of the in
fluential post he has held the past
several years. He was once Am
bassador to Washington and has
had considerable experience in the
United Nations. He speaks Eng
liSh well and is said to be skilled
in Western parliamentary maneu-
VerS
The Gromyko assignment must
be viewed against the background
OF the Soviet attitude toward
Britain in recent months. It's es-
sence has been one of mildness.
For instance, diplomatic observ.
ers have noted consistent ten.
dency in the Russian press t.