OBJECTIVE OF SOVIET

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28894, 14 May 1959, Page 15

OBJECTIVE OF SOVIET

Bid To End Big Power Politics?

GENEVA. May 12. Some diplomats at Geneva believed that the Russian move to include Poland and Czechoslovakia at the Foreign Ministers* conference was actually a camouflaged attempt to break up the big Power system which had dominated European politics since the end of World War 11. Stating this as the ultimate objective behind the Soviet move, British United Press pointed out that the four-Power system stemmed from the war-tjme obligations of the United States, Britain and France and arose officially from the Potsdam accord. Under the title of “Council of Foreign Ministers” it had been the major negotiating alignment on European affairs, and although the title was dropped some time ago, the system remained. Mr Khrushchev was known to dislike the arrangement, and had given many indications of his desire to break it or broaden it so as to establish East-West numerical parity. Over the last year or so, the Russians had pressed with increasing force for EastWest parity at conferences. In a 15-minute speech to the conference calling for the admittance of Czechoslovakia and Poland to the conference, the Soviet Foreign Minister (Mr Andrei Gromyko) said it would be inadequate to admit them in any other capacity than as equal partners. He' rejected any suggestion that they should attend as observers. “Were the peoples of Poland and Czechoslovakia observers in the hard years of the fight against the Hitlerite aggressors?” he asked. According to the American spokesman, the Secretary of State (Mr Christian Herter) said: “We recognise that Poland and Czechoslovakia, like a number of other countries, have a legitimate and direct interest in certain matters which may be discussed. “We believe, however, we should defer consideration of the participation of other countries until we reach the stage of negotiations when other participation would be appropriate, useful and 1 justifiable.” , He said: "If the criteria were i to be accepted that Poland and , Czechoslovakia should be admitted , because they bordered on Ger- , many, or were victims of Hitler- ’ ite aggression, other countries , such as the Netherlands, Deni mark, Luxembourg and Belgium would have to be considered too."