Evening star., 1961-07-19
War or Peace?

AAAC OAAOCu OGdbCSJ UUESUIlcI WIFI
France and Britain, now has made un-
mistakably clear to the Soviet Union
that the peace of the world will be
fearsomely imperiled if Premier Khru-
shchev carries out his threat to act
unilaterally as regards the future of
free Berlin.
AS first enunciated in November of
1858, this threat would be translated
into action through the medium of
separate Soviet peace treaty" with the
puppet East German Communists. The
latter would then be in a position, with
the backing of Russian military force,
to bring all sorts of presSures against
West Berlin, including preSSures aimed
at destroying the city's liberty by putting
an end to o-French- American rights
there-the legal rights of occupation
stemming from Nazi Germany'S un-
conditional surrender in 1945.
These rights, as emphasized in our
solemn note to the Kremlin, and as
emphasized also in the parallel French
and British notes, are absolutely in
law. Moreover, as reaffirmed in the
1949 agreement ending Stalin's brutal
blockade of the city, the same holds
true for the obviously inherent or cor
responding rights of unhampered traffic
into and out of West Berlin. Yet Mr..
KhruShchev, although he mouths upside
down Orwellian "newspeak" about keep
fVaAa La
for doubt that the place is "bone in
his throat" and that he wants to put
an end to its liberty at the earliest
possible moment.
This he would try to do, or so he
has plainly indicated, by presenting the
Western allies with fait accompli
designed to deprive them of their legal
duties and privileges in Berlin. France,
Britain and the United States, however,
have quite different view of the
matter. Thus, as our Government has
set forth in its stern note to the Kremlin,
we and our British and French allies
regard it as "a fundamental political
and moral obligation" to hold onto our
rights and maintain the freedom of
over two million people in West Berlin"
Soviet action to the contrary "could
lead to highly dangerous developments
:. and have the gravest effects upon
international peace and security and
endanger the lives and well-being of
millions of people,"
Accordingly, our Governments note
quite bluntly warns Moscow against
the enormous perils involved in the
craftsmanship now being practiced by
Mr.. Khrushchev. In effect, with it's
firm, unvarnished language, it is a note
designed to impress the Kremlin with
the fact that it had better reckon most
seriously with the terribly somber reality
that the United States and its chief
allies are prepared to accept war-even
nuclear war - rather than surrender
their honor and their most vital national
interests to the Communist drive for
global domination. At the same time,
however, and most Importantly, the
Observation-Disclosures notes are at
pains to keep the door open for honest
negotiation.
In this connection, as our American
note has put it, the United States sis
always prepared to consider in agree
rnent with its allies freely negotiated
settlement of the unresolved problems
Of Germany -. in conformity with the
principle of Self-determination and with
the interests of all concerned" These
words are rather generalized, but they
leave some room for diplomatic maneu-
yer, and perhaps Mr. Khrushchev will
make proper use of them. Otherwise,
If he is unalterably committed to forcing
the issue in Berlin, all of us had better
gird ourselves for some very dangerous
days ahead.
War or peace? The answer rests
with the Kremlin.