Evening star., 1955-06-09
Bonn and the Thow


Kremlin's invitation to Chancellor Kon-
rad Adenauer of West Germany is none
theless development full of high drama.
And its Signi1cance-even If not alto
gether clear at the moments unques-
tionably very great in terms of its bearing
on Soviet thawing operations in the cold
war.
To appreciate this, one has only to
keep in mind the situation prevailing
prior to ratification Of the Paris accords
on arming free Germany as sovereign
member Of the North Atlantic Treaty
Organization. In those days-which were
just short time ago-the Kremlin con-
centrated on attacking the accords with
great deal of threatful talk suggesting
that their effectuation, in addition to in
tensifying the danger of war, would (D
make the Bonn Republic anathema to the
Soviet Union and (2) rule out the posi-
bility of an agreement on German re-
unif1cation.
But today-with the pacts fully rati-
fed, and with West Germany's entrance
into NATO promising to effect an i'm
portant change in the European balance
of power the men of the Krenlin
have shifted to new line, as II
bowling to an accomplished fact. It is
a line that fits in logically with their
spectacular reversal of policy on Austria
and their extraordinary, If not bizarre,
act Of contrition and junket of courtship
In YugoSlavia. At any rate, abandoning
all their former growing about the "con-
sequences" Of the Paris accords, they now
have addressed to Bonn a cordial note
declaring that they would be "honored" If
DR.. Adenauer would visit them in Mos
cow Gin the near future to discuss
the establishing Of diplomatic, trade and
cultural relations" between his govern
ment and theirs, and also to examine
questions in connection with this"
The latter phrase, together with cer-
tain others in the Soviet note, suggests
that the Russian leaders have in mind a
discussion aimed at trying to persuade
DR.. Adenauer to withdraw from NATO
and adopt a policy of Austrianlike neu-
trality in exchange for commitments to
bring about Germany's reunif1cation on
the basis of genuinely free elections
However, although such a proposition
may seem to be attractive to more than
a few Germans, Nikita Khrushchev, Pre-
mier BulganiH and Foreign Minister Mol
otov probably are not banking very much
on their ability to sell the idea. This is
so for two reasons above ALL The first is
that they must see, as realists, that Ger
many - because Of its very nature, it's
key geographical position, It's industrial
strength, its big and dynamic population
cannot in fact be "neutralized." And
the second is that they have no reason
to expect that the great Bonn Chancellor
can be hoodwinked into giving up his
thoroughly sound conviction that the
vital interests of his country demand that
1t move forward as full partner in the
Atlantic alliance.
Accordingly, it is understandable that
President Eisenhower-as he has Just told
his news conference-is not disturbed by
MoScow's invitation to Bonn or by the
probability that DR.. Adenauer (who will
visit him here next week) will accept it.
After all, as the President has said in re-
ferring to the Chancellor, eve have the
utmost faith and confidence in him, and
we know one thing, that he will stand by
his allies and friends" Nobody in the
Western world need have any misgivings
on that score; the mans devotion to
freedom is too clear and strong to be
doubted.
The Russians must surely know this,
too. And that is why their bid to DR..
Adenauer-since they must doubt that it
can make either him or his country en-
brace neutrality-seems doubly signif1-
cant. Quite obviously, as the President
has put it, here is further evidence that
There is change going on" in the cold
war-a change, thaw, that conceivably
may reflect sincere Soviet desire to
work out modus vivendi that could
greatly ease the anxiety of the entire
world.
IT, kIJ Fe1I