ALL IS NOT WELL

Chronicle (Levin), 21 August 1946, Page 5

ALL IS NOT WELL

Press Assn.

Paris Peace Conference PU »."J J. >1J* DIVISIONS MORE OPEN

By Telearaph

- Copyright

Received Tuesday, 7.5 p.m. LONDON, August 18. A note of something approaching gloom and despondency is tenaing to be sounded in reports of correspondents at tne Paris Conference. Summarised, it is a query whether the conference is going to succeed or fail. The atmosphere of the conference has been steadily deteriorating in the past three weeks, remarks a correspo_ident of the Kemsley group. He says there is now a tension about the proceedings that makes one wonder whether anything constructive will ever emerge from them. The division between the groups has become more pronounced and more challenging and the language plainly more unrestrained. Tempers are becoming frayed and Mr, Jordan' s outburst sliowed signs oj. loss of control, aithough it was a natural manifestation of impatience and has helped to clear the air. In any case it was less serious than the cold, deliJ erate language of Mr. Byrnes in defend ing himself against misrepresentatio.i and the anti-American whispering cam paign carried on behind the scenes. The Manchester (iuardian says that so far the conference has producetl little but eliarges, replies to eliarges, and counter-charges, Of what used 10 be considered the fuuctiou of a conference — contacts between statesmen and attempts to work out agreements based on what comuion ground could be found — there has been little sign. There seems to have been astonisliingly few of tliose private conversations and discussions whicli usually , are tlie most fruitful part of any international gathering. Tliose delegations whicli most need to get together have so far only manoeuvred agamst one anotliei from afair. I11 the conference itself a pseudo-Parliamentary procedure has been adopted without that minimum of coiumon purpose whicli is neeessary to niake a Parliament work. Alarm at the prospects of a Europe divided as she has never been before (except in the middle of the Oreat War; is felt in some of the lesser and more independent delegations of the Eastern Bloc no less than in tliose of the Western Povvers. Tlie correspondent remarks that, in an atniosphere of growing cynicism, it is essential that somebody should succeed in striking a uote that will restore to some degree hope and conJidence, botli inside aiul oulside the Luxeinbourg Palace. The Times says: "Three weelts of speechmaking and augling' for position seems only to have vvidened and hani ened the rift between the Eoviet groujis and the rest. Even many delegates tvlio habitually vote with oue side or anotliei are uueasily asking what the outcome will be and whether there is any remedy. At its present stage the conference certainly is not tlie allied and consultati ve body that was planned — a liody to pass opinion 011 tlie iive drat't Lreaties prepared by the Big Four. It is a jousting yard between the East and the West and the Boviet delegations have shovvn that they count the former enemy States of Eastern Europe among their company and will guard them against the Western demamls for freer access and trade. The divisions in fact lie between the Aliies, ratlier than between the Aliies and the former enemy States." The Times adds: "Perhaps when the eommissions begin their work and the Big Eour stand in defence of their agreed clauses, tlie conference will takc 011 a liealthier shape, but after the bitter speeclies exchanged during the past week, many delegates wish that tlie four Forcign JMinisters could meet now to reassure one another that they do intend to support those clauses." The Daily Herald says: "There is no escaping the fact that so far this has not been alniost entirely a debate between tW,0 confiictiug paj'ties. The public sessions are debates,' and there has been nope of 'tlvose infonnal ipeetings in whicli; aniong;:friend§, diffiewfties can oe smoothed away. "j\Ir. Byrnes and Mr. Molotov talked with eacli other just once on July .30. Mr. Bevin and Mr. Molotov have not yet 111 et. There is 110 collaboration, but there is any amount of public altei'cation. ' '