Evening star., 1952-03-27
The German Issue

Il HG SSFUfQH ISSUS
The Big Three reply to recent Soviet pro-
posals for next step toward settling the future
Of Germany is both positive and realistic,
To greater degree than in most Of their
postwar maneuvering, the spokesmen Of the
Kremlin were artful and specifically persuasive
in their advocacy Of unified Independent Ger
many and the suggestion that agreement on
peace treaty be expedited. It is combination
and one which the Western Big Three must
acknowledge as proper objective. Whatever
virtue the Russian proposal has, however, breaks
down on two main points. One is that their
whole gesture at this time obviously arises out
of deep concern, almost panic at the increasingly
close and strong relationship being developed
between West Germany and the Western powers.
The other is the restrictive conditions which
they propose to apply to post-treaty Germany
a prohibition against entering into "any kind
of coalition or military alliance; and which
rest further in their continuing refusal to allow
free alderman elections under United Nations
supervision.
Both Of these weaknesses, along with others,
are recognized in the Big Three reply.
In the first paragraph of this reply, the
Western powers state that they have consulted
with the Federal German government and rep
resentatives of western Berlin, a procedure which
makes sufficiently clear their determination to
continue the close relationship with those Ger
man areas that are not Communist dominated.
The significance will not be missed by either
Western Germany the Kremln. Equally
pointed is the Big Three reference to the pro-
posed limitation on German freedom of aSsocia-
tion with other countries, and the description Of
such provision as step backwards from genuine
peace in Europe.
Greatest emphasis, however, is directed at
the necessity for free elections If truly repre-
sentative alderman government Is to be
created. Under present circumstances OF Com
munist control in Eastern Germany-where
political independence and freedom Of expression
are denied it is evident that no election in this
atmosphere would fully represent ''the will Of
the German people" The protective alternative,
as the Big Three suggest, would be to allow the
United Nations commission, set up for this
purpose free access to all of Germany, its func-
ton to be the establishment of conditions which
would safeguard the national and individual
liberties of the German people"
a This freedom of access already has been
assured to- the u. N. body in the Federal Republic
and in Western Berlin. Thus far, the Russians
have not agreed to it in Eastern Germany.
The Big Three also take prompt advantage Of
the frontier issue, vitality important to German
opinion, raised in the Soviet treaty draft. Moscow
proposes that the permanent German borders
follow provisions of the Potsdam Conference
definition which would leave large area of pre-
war Germany under Polish nationality. The
Potsdam agreement placed this area under
Polish administration pending peace settlement
but genuinely free alderman government as
a party to treaty negotiations would have pow
erful public support for baking at such a
permanent frontier. BY rejecting the idea that
this issue would be non-negotiable the Big Three
stand to win further German approval.
This first exchange of notes will not, Of
course, be the last. The stakes are high in this
particular game and the Russians, having shifted
their position substantially in the March 10 note
may give further ground in their effort to win
German opinion The Big Three are fully aware
that the whole future of the Western community
can be seriously affected. Their diplomacy is
being put to a major test