Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-01-27
Big -Four Briefings
Confuse Press and
Offer Little News
CONTINUED From First Page.) !"

with StlnDacke0 chairs to await
man.
Once started, the fill-in by
the arrival of the official spokes-
high-ranking State Department
officer is snappy and to the point.
Reporters learn that the meet
ing started at the appointed time
with French Foreign Minister
Bidault in the chair. and with
a speech by Secretary of State
Dulles the first order of business.
Texts Supplied.
No time was wasted on re-
hearsing the Secretary's re-
marks. since reporters already
were equipped with texts. Only
point was stressed: Mr.. Dulles
made it clear the United States
would not sit down with the
Communist Chinese for five
power conference unless the is
sues first were specifically lin
tied to the Far East.
A summary of Russian Foreign
Minister Molotov'S reply takes a
bit longer. 1t seemed to the
American spokesman that the
Soviet Minister had covered
much the same ground as in his
opening effort Monday, confin-
ing himself to three points.
These were:
l. A discussion of the German
question with great emphasis on
Yalta and PotSdam agreements,
both of which emphasize the
danger of revival of German
militarism.
g An eloquent description of
the historic greatness of the
Chinese revolution. with suitable
digs at great powers too blind
to recognize the facts of inter-
national life.
8. Renewed argument for
five-power conference, ending up
with specific proposal for such
a meeting to be held in May or
June this year.
AS editorial Interpolation, the
American spokesman says he
had the feeling that Mr.. Molotov
was trying to fuzZ up or tone
down his rather stark opening
statement. in recognition of the
bad effect it had on world public
opinion. The speech had been
followed, he says. by statements
from Mr. Bidault and British
Foreign Secretary Eden. accept
ing Mr.. Molotov's agenda for the
conference. At the same time.
the two Ministers protested the
order of discussion suggested by
the Russians. putting the five
power conference first and leav-
ing German and Austrian queS-
tons until later.
A brisk question-answer period
follows. Did Mr.. Molotov men,
ton the Austrian question?
Not so far as the official remem-
bers. Did Mr.. Bidault plan to
confer with Mr.. Dulles before
his dinner with Mr.. Molotov?
The spokesman thinks not. Did
acceptance of the agenda mean
that no question could be dis
cussed until the previous one had
been settled? The spokesman
sincerely hopes otherwise. A
few minutes later. the American
brief1ng is over Reporters
hustle out to find taxis for the
drive to the Russian sector.
The trip to the other side of
the Iron Curtain is a little like
Alice's trip through the looking
glass. AS soon as they get out
in front of the Russian press
building at Goebbels old propa-
ganda ministry. reporters realize
they have entered a different
world.
On the second floor, the brief
ing room is small but filled with
comfortable arm chairs. A tele-
vision set stands in a corner. In
front Of blue velvet curtain.
four brief1ng officers face the
audience across a handsome
desk.
A bespectacled man is the
Russian spokesman. Interpret
ers are on either side. The
fourth man seems to have moth
ing to do but fiddle with papers
and look nervous when his COL
leagues muff lines. Around the
room. photographers prowl,
swapping pictures of the visiting
bourgeois press.
In Three Languages.
Soon it is quite plain what
kind of briefing this is to be.
After the preliminaries, the
spokesman settles down to the
afternoon speech by Mr.. Molo-
tov, reading from a prepared
typewriter text. Each time he
pauses for breath, interpreters
take over. There is no attempt
at summarization. Each word
by the Soviet Foreign Minister
is carefully enunciated in three
languages.
For more than an hour, West
ern correspondents sit there and
take it. Then one by one they
arise and sneak out of the room.
With each departure, the Rus
sian spokesman looks up in
panied surprise. One has the
feeling he would like to pep up
the show, but can't throw away
his script. Finally. although it
is clear that the speech is far
from over, only members of the
Communist press corps are left
in the seats.
Outside snappy looking wait
reSSeS wander around with trays
loaded with brandy and vodka,
just like at high-class cocktail
party. Suddenly the trip seems
highly worthwhile. It comes as
quite shock when they present
a bill for the refreshments.