Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-01-24
Hone and Berlin

Because of bitter experience with Soviet
intransigence at all such meetings In the past,
it is only too easy to be pessimistic about the
Big Four conference opening in Berlin tomor-
row Even so, the Western foreign ministers
Mr.. Bidault of France, Mr.. Eden OF Britain and
Mr.. Dulles of the United States-have been at
pains to emphasize that they are approaching
the talks in an affirmative and hopeful spirit.
And that is good thing, for If Russia's Mr..
Molotov can be persuaded to negotiate in the
same sort of mood, the conferees should find
it possible to make at least little progress
toward narrowing the dark gulf existing between
the free world and the world behind the Iron
Curtain.
At any rate, excessive pessimism at this
stage would be as premature and out OF place
as excessive optimism. True enough, through
Pravda and other propaganda outlets, the
Kremlin has indicated that Mr.. Molotov will
have nothing essentially new to offer. He may
continue to insist that the Big Four meet at an
early date with Red China. He may remain as
negative as ever toward treaty for Austria.
He may refuse to modify in the slightest the
Soviet Unions long standing opposition to the
Vests proposal for free German elections and
for unified Germany integrated into the pro-
jected sx-nation European Defense Community.
He may cut loose with his hackneyed and totally
unacceptable demand that the EDO be strapped
and that American overseas bases in the Allan
tic alliance be ''liquidated." And he may even
turn thumbs down, in the special talks he Is
scheduled to have with Mr. Dulles, on President
Eisenhowers atoms for peace plan. Quite obvi-
ouSy, if that is going to be his position, the
Berlin conference will end in Illustration and
failure of the worst kind.
But the Western foreign ministers, having
in mind the possibility that Stains death may
have had wholesome influence on Soviet poll
icy, are not writing off the meeting, or digging
it's grave, before 1t begins. Instead, they are
giving proper weight to the chance that organs
like Pravda have not said the last word on the
matter and that Mr.. Molotov may be construc-
tive enough to permit measure of progress
toward easing international tension. Thus, as
Mr., Dulles has said, he and his Anglo-French
counterparts are ION mission which is dltncult,
but hopeful. =. The subject is the future of
Europe Will Germany and indeed all Europe be
unified for peace? Or will divisions be imposed
which will make Europe again the breeder OF
war? The Berlin conference will not finally
answer these questions But it will go far to
indicate what the final answers will be" and II
the Russians participate af1rmatively, they Will
find us open minded and cooperative and we
can together do much good" for Germany, Aus
tria, Europe and the entire world
The vital "if" here of course, has to do with
whether or not the post-Stalin men OF the
Kremlin are ready to negotiate in good faith.
Whatever their intentions, however, Mr.. Dulles
and Mr. Eden-backed by Mr.. Bidault's aftirma-
ton in support of the EDC-have made clear
that the Western Big Three are determined to
remain united. In Mr.. Dulles words. I'VE believe
that Europe will be rebuilt in strength. France
and Germany are cooperating" and mo Soviet
efforts can prevail against our constructive pur-
poses" If this inter-allied position Is main
tanned unwaveringy at Berlin, then the confer
ence may well be productive of encouraging
results In any event. in world where atomic
war seems to be the only alternative to peaceful
and reasonable agreement, it is far better to
strive hopefully for such an agreement-step by
Stephan to succumb to the enormously dan
gerous sterility of pessimism and despair.