"Bewildering Episode," Says London Times

Chronicle (Levin), 14 May 1948, Page 5

"Bewildering Episode," Says London Times

i ( N.Z.P.A,

— Reuter,

, Copyright)

Received Thursday, 7 p.m. LONDON, May 13. The eonfusion that lias resulted from Moscow's oiie-sided annotmcement of the coiirersatioiis betvveen General Bedeli Smith (U.S.A.) and Mr. Molotov lias now ended, says The Times ' diplomatic correspondent, bnt the question still to be answered is why the Soviet Union so quickly seized on the opportunity afforded by Ueneral Bedell Smith 's statement to Mr. Molotov to make known its vvillingness to enter into two-party diseussions. The theories put forward in some quarters that the Rnssians aeted only from a desire to drive a wedge between Britain and Ameriea and to score a propaganda victory are not in tliemselves a suffieient explanation. It seems more likel.v that the Rnssians hoped by their tactics to force the Amerieans into opening two-party diseussions Muth them. They may also have thought it possible to cause a slaekening in the tempo of western consolidation and obtain breathing space for themselves. The Times, in a lender, says that both Amerioan and Soviet diplomaev must be blamed in dif fering degi'ees for a bewildering o})isode. The Rnssians could not be blamed for taking the keenest interest in the American statement about the door being "alwavs wide open for a full diseussion of our differences," or for regarding it as soniething more than a conventjonal expression of a desire forbetter relations. Neither couhl they have been blamed, but rather praised, if they had quiekly followed it up and in|nired what exactlv the Amerieans had in mind The Soviet Uovernment, however cho.se a far different course. and have thereby dono a disservice to the cause of peace. Whether tho Rnssians elnmsily sought to commit Ameriea to eonversation o'set out lo sabotage the i>lan can T be decided, but the effect is the same. The Times points out The ho]>e that a cpnference niight be arranged. with other Powers incvitably being drawn in, has been dashed. The United States and the countries of West and Southern Furone must now s1ioa\ redoubled energy in the Ruropean recovery programme and in the oonsolidation of the . Western Union. Renter's Moseow correspondent states that Soviet newspapers gave nearly threequarters of their foreign news space to world reaetion to the United States-Soviet talks and the statement by Mr. Henrv, Wallaee ealling for an immediate Soviet-American eonferenee.