Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-02-17
Russia IsSeen
CapitaIizingo on
Dulles Illness
West Is Expecting
KremIin Coll for
Quick German uIk
BY CROSBY s. MOVES

European Correspondent OF the star
PARIS. Feb. II - 1t is
expected here that Russia will
press for q Big -Four conference
on Germany at an early date
in order to take maximum adj
vantage Of Secretary Of State
Dulles illness.
The Western replies to the
Soviet note of January 10. de-
livered yesterday, left the date
and place Of the meeting up
to the Kremlin. It is thought
the Russians may seize the OPP
portunity to suggest that the
meeting be held before the end
Of April.
So far, the Russian press has
reported Secretary Dulles i'll
ness without comment. After
the recent statements Of Dep
uty Premier Anastas Mikoyan,
however, it is quite evident
that the top Kremlin command
has considered Mr.. Dulles as
the major obstacle to an agree
ment with the West on Ger
man unif1cation and European
security. And they can now
be counted on to exploit fully
the disorganization of the
Western leadership caused by
his absence.
May Await Macmillan
The Russian proposal is ex-
pected within the next few days.
The question is whether Premier
Khrushchev will delay an an
nouncement until Prime Minis
ter Macmillan's arrival in Mos
COW this week end. 1t is pos
sible that the Russian leader
may want to use the forthcom-
ing meeting as a basis for his
discussions with the Prime
Minister.
The Russians have favored an
early meeting from the ouset.
In their January proposal for
a 28-nation German peace con-
ference, they suggested that it
be held in March, preferably in
Prague or Warsaw. They are
now expected to make no strong
objection to the Western
counter proposal for four power
foreign ministers with observe
ers present from East and West
Germany. They would also
probably be agreeable to shift
ing the site to more neutral
territory such as Geneva,
Vienna or even Berlin.
Timing Is Issue
But the timing of the talks
is now a major cause of con-
Germ to the West.
The idea of leaving the date
up to the Russians was strong
ly urged by French President
Charles de Gaulle at the time of
Mr.. Dulles recent visit here.
Although it was generally
agreed that a meeting before
the end of May would be ad-
visable, the French were re-
luctant to give the impression
of asking for negotiations
under the threat of the Rus
sian ultimatum. The Russian
deadline for turning over its
authority in Berlin to the East
German government is May 81.
Today. Secretary Dulles ILL
ness adds another powerful ar
gument for delaying the OPEN
ing of critical negotiations. The
Western timetable for the Big
-Four conference already has
been thrown off stride by the
announcement that the confer
ence of Western foreign min
listers scheduled for March may
be postponed for nearly a
month. Faced with the uncer-
tainty as to what part, if any,
Mr.. Dulles may be able to play
in assisting in preparations for
the conference, widespread d
opinion IN Europe favors the
early appointment of a sue
cessor with full authority.
The argument is that Who
ever is to represent the United
States in the conference with
the Russians should have as
much time as possible to pre-
pare himself for the job. And
the time remaining is already
desperately short.