SUPREME TESTING TIME

Chronicle (Levin), 31 July 1948, Page 5

SUPREME TESTING TIME

Received Fridav, 7 p.m. *■ LONDON, .Tuly 30. Londrm observers eonside r Mr Bevin's Oomnions statemont indieatod that the Western Powers' envoys tr. .Moseow would propose a discussion' oi the eurreney question as the (irst ap proneli on the German sit nation. I'euter's AI oseow eorrespondent sa : ttuthoritative opinion eonsiders th;o the Russians would agree in principi to s. diseussioii cf (lennany as a wlml. po song as thev did not consider n dietatoria! and the Westerti Powers d not demand the lifting of the Berh, blockade whieh the Russians niaint.au thev are not earrviiig out. The Russian houhi iindoubledlv weleome a Foreign Ministers' Oouneil meeting to (liscus:: Oertnany. It is believed 1hat if in thpreliminary negotiations both sideeould sunnount the hurdles of prestigv, the Russians would be willing to hasteii sueli a eonference. Ihe Tinies says it is the supreme testing time in the Berlin crisis. The Kus sians' reply, when it comes, shouh reveal which is their primary objectivc — whether to push the Western Allies out of Berlin or open Four-Power talk:It should show whether the Russians are set on completing the division oi Geriuany at the risk of preeipitatiug a far graver crisis or whether tliey st.il i hope Oermany niay somehow be unilied The eagerness with which, onl.v twr nionths ago, thev declared theniselve1ready for general talks with the Uuited States, cannot be l'orgotten. Neithc can the highly specious "terins fo Gennany settlenient" drawn up by AU Molotov and his corps of Eastern Kuro pean Foreign Ministers in Warsaw nionlli ago. There is probably more lr. bnth declarntions tlian siinple propa gaudn or an atlempt to throw a sniokescreen over their own pre-n rrangc.; plans for dividing (tennany.