TRYING TO CONVINCE RUSSIA

Chronicle (Levin), 13 June 1946, Page 5

TRYING TO CONVINCE RUSSIA

fSpecial Correspondent.)

BRXTISII PUBLIC TIRING OF REBUFFS

Reeeived Wednesdav, 7.0 p.m. LONDOX, June 12. The anmial conference >f the British T.ahnur Parl v al Boiirnenioulh tliis week is expecled to do two iniportant thiugs — give Alr. Bevin Ihe opporiunily to eonlirm tlie British intention to support 1 1m? sel I lcinetit oi' Western Europe vvhether or not the Russinns agree, and reject" uneomprisingiy Ihe reports oi British ( 'omniunisls to alhliate undei the Soeialist baiiner. Inipatienee after pnstponemenls, pro ceilural arguments and Iaelc oi result > at the reeent Alinislerial eou lerences, has lieeonie sn iletinite in United States and Britain tliat it is eertain Imth Mr. Byrnes and Al r. Bevin will make the strnngest ell'orts to break tlie present staleniate vvith Russia. The Foreign Secretary 's speech at Bounienumt.il is exjiected to give an indivation of the lines Britain and Ameriea will adopt to achieve tliis. The only snhstantial disagroeinent in Britain upon the Brilish Hussian poliey is Jlou mueli L'urther the British Uovernluent slimihl go in its endeavours to reacdi an understanding with Ihe Soviet. All parties are united in vvaiiling an ngreenient and Mr. Bevin was obviously in tune with moderate opinion wlien he tohi the ('mamona he would uiake oue inore elTort to achieve it. It eannot be said tlie pros]iects are regarded optimistically, however, and the (piestioa Britain is facing is, " If Moscuvv eontinues to disauree then whai.'"

A It Iiougli politieal .-pokesmen are making olivious el'forts to be cheort'ul. Ihe jirobaliility tliat Rtissin will i-on tinue to disagree, predomiiiates. it is underlined bv eonnnents by Bravda on Bevin 's Conmion.s speech and the announeenient of the British-Ainerie.au jilan to separate (leruiany into twelve con i'edera l ed St at ea. Oue relati vely iiiiiniportant faelor lias filso strongly infiueneed British opinion — Russian abaeiice froni the I.ondon Victory parade. The fact tliat the Hua sians did not oven ackuowledge their iuvitation or attempt to provide a polite cxpluuatiou for their absence eaused a most un t'avourable reacfion in Britain and also al the Bournenioutli eonfer-eiu-e whare it is considered this lalest (leinonsti'ation of Russian ungruciousness has destroved anv liugering hopes the British Oomnumists niav liave enter tained at being reeeived into the British Labour Partv.

Biitish opinion of whatever ptirlv coloiir, otlier tinui deep l'ed, appears to lutve reached the stage at whieh it is 1 ijj e f ; of y K u s s i ; i n rebuifs and lavk oi' ufidi^tt&idii iig niid* is .det.erniined to gg'f on with the job of postwtir reconstrimtion if not with Russian cooporation tlieu without it. The possiiiility of the Russian hand not being as strong as gonerally supposed, is also being discussed. Jt is su^pest ed tliat the real basis of Russia's ae«iuiaitiveaeas in Kaslern Kurope is her fear of ihe jiower of British and Anierican deiuocrueies and her tolall\ • unjust itiecl auapieion tliat tliis? jiower may be used a^ainst her. Xo oue ap pears able to supgest ti practieal means of retissurin"' tliese Soviet misgivinga and eonvincing Afoseow tliat neithe.i British nor Anierican ]iublic opinion ea n conccivably tolertite any (toverninent with agpressive intentions aiitiinst the Soviet. Althouiih the

Bournenioutli conference will undoubt edlv pi ve inenibers of the Labour 1'afty the opportunity to "let their hair lown in reasonable prlvaey", it is already plain tliat Mr. Bevin will receive an ovprwhelniiiig endorsenient of foreign poliey and baeking for his deteriuina timi to end ihe staleniate even if tliis means Britain and Ameriea will proceed independently of Russia. On tliis iiu- , oortant issue ;it least it is reeo^nisod (■Alr. Beviu lias not only the great majority of his own aupporters solidly beliiiul hini but also the bulk of tlie countrv. In tliese eircunistances British opinion obviouslv derives greatest encourage ment froni the fact tliat the BritisliAnierican offieial policv and jniblic opinion is thoroughly in accord. It is also plain tliat. despite Prof. Laski 's last-niinute efl'ort to reassure the Russians tliat the decided rejection of Oommunist overtures is likely to be giveu, Bournenioutli will reflect the present teniper of the British people. They agree with Prof. Laski tliat "it is inconeeivable tliat this, the greatesl working-elass party in Western Lurope, should lend its support direetly or inBireetly to any Ctovernnient whieh songht to threaten Russia," but are beeoming notieeably impatient with Russian refusal to be convinced of the fact.