Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-02-15
Austria and Another Soviet mo-

In keeping with the expectations of all but
the wishful and over-optimistic, Soviet Foreign
Minister Molotov has made clear at the Berlin
conference-now scheduled to end on Thursday
that the Kremlin is as determined as ever to
block an independence treaty for Austria.
This is obvious from the conditions laid
down by Mr.. Molotov. True with seeming rea-
SonableneSs, he has made certain concessions
and indicated readiness to reach an agreement
on treaty before the conference closes. But at
the same time he has insisted on terms plainly
calculated to rule out the possibility of restoring
full freedom and sovereignty to the Austrian
people in the foreseeable future.
The terms include the following: Cd That
the Big Four insert into the treatyS present
draft an additional article pledging the Aus
TRANS not to associate themselves with enter
prises like the North Atlantic Treaty Organiza-
ton or the projected European Defense Com
munity; and 60 that the Big Four agree-in
order to prevent new "Anschluss" or Austro-
German union-to keep their occupation troops
In Austria until the conclusion of definitive
peace settlement with unified Germany
Nothing could be clearer, of course, than the
utterly cynical and obstructionist nature of
these proposals Thus, as Foreign Minister Figl
has indicated, AuStria-even though 1t has no
desire or intention to ally itself with NATO or
the EDC-could hardly accept pact that would
permanently obligate it to be less than SOW
ereign nation in the field of foreign affairs,
where 1t should have an unqueStioned right
to be its own master in deciding what ties it
should have with other lands. More important
still, in laying down the condition that occupa-
ton troops must remain in that country until
there is peace pact with Germany, Mr.. Molotov
has left no room for doubt that the Malenkov
regime is resolved to adhere to Stains decision
to diShonor the solemn Soviet pledge made in
the Moscow Declaration Of 1943
Under that pledge the liberated Austrians
should have been restored to unqualified indie
pendence Immediately after the end of the
Second World War. With typical bad faith
however the Kremlin has reneged on its given
word through all the years that have since
passed, and its latest position on the issue
as defined by MIR. Molotoy-means that it in
tends to keep on reneging for period of indefi-
mite duration. So Austria, as matters stand
today, seems destined to have to wait long
long time for the complete restoration of its
1reedom-aS long as may be required for the
Big Four to arrive at a German settlement
This dreary prospect, as Secretary Dulles
has declared, revolves around simple but bleak
fact: The Kremlin wants to remain in Austria
not merely to milk the countrys economy but
also-and more importantly-to maintain its
troops there, plus its lines of-communication
forces in Romania and Hungary, in order to
keep firm grip on its FESTIVE satellites and to
retain strong military lodgment as far west
as possible in that part of the world.
Certainly, what Mr. Molotov has had to
say about Austria, coupled with his views of
other and larger issues, shows that the Soviet
Union continues to be unyieldngly intent upon
holding on to everything it has, however ILL
gotten. AS result, when it closes this week, the
now-moribund Berlin conference will take its
place in history as yet another example of the
futility of trying to negotiate peace promoting
agreements against the stone wall of the Krem-
Inns ay-saying and bad faith