Evening star., 1955-06-15
Clear Path to Summit

The Soviet Unions acceptance of the
July 18 date and the Geneva location for
the Big Four meetings clears the path for
the first face-to-face conference among
the major-power chiefs of state since the
end of World War II. This, in itself, will
make the occasion a momentous one
even though varying opinions have been
expressed as to the probable accomplish
ments of the meetings.
Actually, the sequence of events TAX
ing place during the intervening weeks
offers promise that a sound foundation
for their talks will be in place when the
heads of government come together next
month. West Germany's Chancellor Ade-
nauer, who will not be participant in
the Geneva meetings, already has con-
ferred here this week with President
Eisenhower and Secretary of State Dulles.
Later this week, Mr. Dulles will meet in
New York with British Foreign Secretary
Harold Macmillan and French Foreign
Minister Antoine Pinay for a further
coordination of the Big Three position
on matters likely to be discussed at
Geneva. Since the role of newly inde-
pendent West Germany now full part
ner of the free nations, and the question
of alderman unity are issues looming
large in the East-West diplomatic ma
neuvering DR.. Adenauer is expected to
meet also with the Big Three ministers
in New York
Next week the scene will shift to
San Francisco where the United Nations
marks its tenth birthday anniversary.
President Eisenhower, certain to be a
dominant figure at Geneva, will have an
opportunity in his address opening the
San Francisco observance to reaff1rm in
significant setting the Western commit
ment to peaceful, but honorable settle
ment of world problems. Detailed work
on the Geneva agenda will then be under
taken in Big Four conference at the
foreign ministers level, with Soviet Min
lister Molotov meeting the representatives
OF the three major allied powers.
There has, of course, been consider
able advance jockeying over conditions
for the talks at the summit The place
and the time to begin, two of the first
issues, now have been resolved. Length
of the meetings is in some doubt, with the
Soviet government indicating that it
AdFOlo lIlOI GlldIl GI1c 1CuE UdyS pTGleTT6Q
by the Western powers. President Eisen-
hover and other spokesmen of the Big
Three have insisted on limited length"
but have left the way open for an extra
day or two If the course of the talks war
rants such an extension. The agenda,
as OF now, still is under question. Soviet
sources have objected to Mr.. Dulles sug-
gestion that there should be discussion
OF the problem of the (satellite) coun-
tries of Eastern Europe" and the "activi-
ties OF international communism" In
turn, Moscow spokesmen have repeated
their criticism about American troops and
military bases abroad-implying that
these established measures for Western
security are among the causes for "inter-
national tension" which should be elm
mated, even if the same rule does not
apply in their opinion to Soviet troops
and facilities in the satellite countries.
It cannot be foretold now how these
remaining differences will be settled, If
they are, before July 18. Even so, there
are reasons to feel hopeful that some real
progress toward a more peaceful world
can be made at Geneva.