Conciliation Still Open To Powers: Possible U.N. Move

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22757, 1 October 1948, Page 5

Conciliation Still Open To Powers: Possible U.N. Move

(9 a.m.) LONDON. Sept. 30. The delegates of other countries have already noted with relief that the Western Powers do not ask the Security Council to take any drastic action at this stage, says the Times’ special correspondent in Paris. The way to conciliation is thus still left open’ and once again it is being unofficially suggested that the four Powers should be recommended to open discussions on Germany as a whole. Berlin it is pointed out, is the place where the wider disunity of the Powers in Germany has reached the danger point and, so the argument runs, it is hard to see how the Berlin dispute can be discussed apart from the German dispute from which it springs. "Hie Security Council itself cannot discuss the German settlement, but it might, it is suggested, tell the four Powers to try again. And if the Russians are sincere in their oft-expressed desire for a renewal of talks on Germany, the promise of such talks might be the only thing to induce them to raise the blockade. Will Clarify Responsibilities Looking still further ahead, some say that even if the wider talks failed, the failure would, at any rate, bring clarity and finalitv and the positions and responsibilities of the Powers in a divided Germany would be seen more clearly. The suggas’ion for such wider talks would have to come from one of im. smaller Powers represented at the Security Council, and it is noted that nothing has yet been said by anv of the four Powers themselves to rule out such a proposal. For the immediate future, however, the prospect is wholly confused. In all possibility, the debate in the council will open with procedural wrangljngs, with M. Vyshinskv disputing the council’s right to examine anything to do with Germany while Germany is still nominally under the four-Power responsibility,' which is recognised by Article 107 of the U.N. Charter. Then there is the all too clear probability that charges and, countercharges will only aggravate the dispute. As no action can be authorised in any case because of the inevitable Soviet veto, many delegates wonder what purpose will be served in the council. “Educating World Opinion" “Educating world opinion” is often given as the answer; or it is said that the United States is deliberately bringing matters to a head and is confrontRussia by way of warning with the assembled force of the free world. Another American answer was heard yesterday. more rational than the others. The Berlin dispute it was suggested might become more tense and more dangerous. The United States Government does not want war, but in the present state of American public opinion it might be forced to take strong action if an incident —say in the corridor—were to occur. Public pressure in America might be all the greater if the dispute were not already being examined by the Security Council. The fact that the council was in' possession of the case might therefore ac* as a steadying force sheet anchor, providing the time and means for international consideration.