Evening star., 1955-06-17
BY GARNETT d. HORNER
Star stan Correspondent

By GARNETT ID. HORNER
Star stan Correspondent
NEW YORK, June 1.-THE
American, British and French
governments seem inclined to
agree that Soviet leaders are sim
cere now in wanting something
done to ease cold war tensions
and lessen the threat of hot
H-bomb war.
This was indicated by the lit
tie that could be learned today
about secret discussions going on
here among the foreign ministers
Of the Big Three Western powers.
But they are not going over
board on the idea of Soviet sim
cereity. Skeptically on guard
against any Moscow sucker bait,
they are adopting a show me"
approach to the fateful Big Four
negotiations scheduled to begin
with a conference "at the sum-
nit" in Geneva July 18.
Secretary of State Dulles.
British Foreign Secretary Harold
Macmillan and French Foreign
Minister Antoine Pinay opened
here Yesterday a two-day series
of talks to form united West
ern front before they meet in
San Francisco Monday with
Soviet Foreign Minister V. M.
Molotov to complete arrange
ments for the Geneva confer
ence.
Agrees on Two Points
They found themselves in
general agreement on two
things:
/. Their estimates of what is
behind recent Soviet moves billed
as aimed at lessening of wos.s
tensions.
2. Proposals to be submitted
to Mr.. Molotov on how the
Geneva top-level conference
shall operate.
Today they get down to the
major business of trying to
agree on what problems the
Western powers want brought
up at Geneva and the positions
they will take on them in the
face of anticipated new Russian
moves to break up the Western
alliance.
West German Chancellor
Adenauer joins the foreign min
listers at lunch and in an after
noon discussion of the approach
to Russia on a major problem
certain to be a prime concern
at Geneva-the reunification of
Germany.
The conference participants
were not disclosing to reporters
any details of their conclusions.
They do not want Mr.. Molotov to
be confronted with public. an
nouncement of details Of the
Western position before they
meet with him in San Francisco.
Factors to Be Considered
But the factors considered in
framing their estimates of what
Russia is up to can be stated
authoritatively. And much can
be learned from a mere listing OF
these factors. Among them were
!. The governmental situation
in Moscow. This apparently is
not consolidated into firm one
man rule as it was when Stain
was alive. The present indica-
tions of rivalry among top Soviet
leaders give rise to the hope that
they may want to assure Russia
against involvement in war while
they work out the question OF
who is boss.
Q. The economic burdens Of the
armaments race in this atomic
age. The implication here is
that there Is reason to believe
the Kremlin is feeling the pinch,
and would like to find a way to
ease the burdens.
8. The situation in the Soviet
satellites. Could unrest Of the
peoples long enslaved under Red
rule be turning into real prob
lem for Moscow?
4. The motives that prompted
recent unexpected Soviet agree
ment to an Austrian independ-
ence treaty and the unprecedent-
ed visit of top Kremlin leaders
to Yugoslavia to WOO Marshal
Tito These may lie in a COM
bination of the other factors.
S. The Vests position OF
strength" The defensive power
facing the threat of Soviet ag-
gression is on the upswing, es-
pecialy since West Germany's
entrance into the NATO alliance
This factor may overshadow al
the rest.
All these factors entered into
the American, British and French
efforts to decide the key ques-
ton: Are Russias recent moves
that have raised world hopes
s9or durable peace Just for prop
&fanda purposes. or are t ~