HOPES OF AGREEMENT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26627, 25 November 1947, Page 5

HOPES OF AGREEMENT

FOREIGN MINISTERS’ TALKS FEW PROSPECTS OFFERING N.Z.P.A. Special Correspondent LONDON, Nov. 23. Discussing the, prospects of this week’s Foreign Ministers’ conference, and its effect upon relations between the United' States and Russia, the Economist says prospects of agreement are not bright, but there is no. reason why a breakdown on this occasion should be any more catastrophic than on previous occasions. “If the events' of the past nine months have proved anything about international politics, it is that neither the Soviet nor the American Government want war,” says the paper'. There is no risk of war at the present time, the journal continues, because no Great Power is either confident enough of the results of a war. or frightened enough of the consequences of peace. “It is true that there are noisy warmongers in both Russia and the United States, but there is no 1 sign that the handful of men in both countries who really decide policies want war. They clearly prefer other means—nowadays not formal diplomacy but the use of money, goods, parties and ideas Russo-American Conflict “The struggle between these ideas is already joined, and it is likely that the conflict between the Zhadanov. directive to the Communist parties and the, Marshall Plan for the Western democracies will continue throughout the winter. There is, however, no sign that the rulers oi Russia desire to back their stake by war. They know that if they did so they would either win or lose, but that in either event it would be a long, hard war, apd that is something they dare not face.” The Economist expresses the hope that Mr Marshall, during his visit to Britain, will take the opportunity to elucidate his policy more fully. “There is much greater disposition in Britain to-day than there has ever been before to face all the implications of policy that the best way to be friends with Russia is to be firm and accept partnership with America in such an enterprise. But to transmute a disposition into a settled policy requires the chemistry of statesmanship.” Support for M» Bidault M. Bidault, who is a popular Republican, will have fairly solid support of all Centre and Right Wing groups when he represents France at the Foreign Ministers’ Conference in London, where he is accompanied by M. Maurice Couve de Murville and M. Herve Alphand, says the Associated Press Paris correspondent. M. Bidault, while maintaining the position of the Socialists and Republicans in international politics, throughout his post-liberation career as Foreign Minister, has also played a careful game, guarding the Communists’ interests as well. In London he will probably, urge the political unification of Germany under a loose federation of German States, subject to provisos:— First, that Germany is so supervised as never to become a threat to France.

Secondly, that' France is assured o 1 sufficient Ruhr coal to achieve reconstruction ahead of Germany.

Thirdly, that the Ruhr be detached from Germany and nationalised. Fourthly, that Saar Valley be incorporated within French economy.. Attitude of Soviet

Mr Molotov arrived at London by air for the Big Four Foreign Ministers’ meeting. Reuter’s Berlin correspondent reports that Mr Molotov conferred with the Russian military headquarters in Berlin on his way to London. _ Sources close to the Russian authorities said the conference discussed the consequences of possible failure of the Foreign Ministers’ talks find paid particular attention to the possibility of withdrawing the Soviet representative from the Allied Control Council. Mr Molotov, however, is reported not to have abandoned hope of compromising on Germany and Austria. Russian circles in Berlin expect the London conference to be a long one. . Mr Molotov, when he arrived at Northolt this afternoon, was greeted by Lord Pakenham, Minister in Charge of the British Zone in Germany, and the Russian Ambassador, Mr Zarubin, says The Times diplomatic- correspondent. M. Bidault, who was detained m Paris until the formation of the new French Cabinet, may now, with strong M.R.P. representation in Cabinet, enjoy greater freedom at the conference than he has previously known. Other arrivals to-day for the conference were General Lucius Clay, Military Governor of the United States Zone in Germany, General Bedell Smith, United States Ambassador in Moscow, and General Catroux, French Ambassador in Moscow.