Foreign Ministers Differ As To Order Of Priority Of Problems Before Them

Wanganui Chronicle, 27 November 1947, Page 5

Foreign Ministers Differ As To Order Of Priority Of Problems Before Them

RUSSIAN ACCEPTANCE OF THE "BYRNES TREATY" (N.Z.P.A.—Reuter—Copyright.) Received 11.55 p.m. LONDON, Nov. 26 A further attempt is to be made by the four Foreign Ministers in conference here to overcome a deadlock which has arisen regarding the compilation of an agenda and its order of priority. The main point at issue is whether Germany shall be discussed first, or Austria. Mr. Molotov (Russia) would not give way to appeals by the Western Powers to discuss a French proposal regarding Austria, and insisted that Germany should be discussed first.

Strong appeals were made by both Mr. Bevin (Britain) and Mr. Marshall (United States) to Mr. Molotov to waive his objection. but be remained adamant. Further efforts to solve the problem will be made today. Moscow radio broadcast that a full report of the conference appeared in the Moscow newspapers. It commented that London newspapers were expressing pessimistic views as to the outcome of the conference and were blaming Mr. Molotov for probable lack of progress. This, the. radio claimed, was because the papers wanted to lay the blame on Russia should the conference fail. Discussing the first day’s proceedings at the conference, “The Times” diplomatic correspondent emphasises that even if all the procedural deadlocks are cleared out of the way it still remains to be seen whether a solid basis exists for the building up of a four-Power agreement on German unity. “So far as the Russians are concerned, they now, he says, “have their zone tightly organised politically as well as economically, and they might as well think that any move towards unity would react to their advantage. Virtually, all the steel is in the western zones, and if the Russians are to get anything more in the way of reparations from current production it is from there it must come. Therefore, in urging proposals for greater unity they might reckon to throw the British and Americans on the defensive. Moreover, a Russian decision now to restore German unity might be reckoned to cause temporary embarrassment to those working out the Marshall Plan.”

The correspondent continues: “It seems possible, therefore, that Russia will show the initiative in propounding schemes for a unified economic

and political organisation of Germany, but she would have to go a long way indeed from the position taken up at Moscow if any such scheme is to be acceptable to the other occupying Powers. So far she has given little indication that she is prepared to do so. Both the British and Americans are bound, by sheer necessity, to their objections to reparations from current production. France, provided she is certain of keeping the Saar, may well feel she can safely allow the extent of agreement or disagreement between the other Powers to become evident before putting forward her own views.’* Cutting preliminary formalities to a minimum, the Foreign Ministers began their conference yesterday by discussing some of the more controversial aspects of their many problems. There was apparently a spirit of compromise because the Ministers quickly accepted the French proposal to include Germany’s frontiers in the i agenda. i The Minsters during the threehour session, agreed, to six items for the agenda, although they did not decide the order of discussion. The 'items wA-e: (1) Reports of the Austrian Treaty Commission; (2) the form and scope of provisional political organisation of Germany; (3) economic principles; (4) preparation of a German peace treaty (frontiers and procedure); (5) the American proposal for the draft disarmament and demilitarisation treaty, commonly called the “Byrnes treaty’’ and (6) the Russian sponsored item, “implementation of decisions taken at the I Moscow session of the Council .of Foreign Ministers on demilitarisation.’’

Russia’s acceptance of the Byrnes Treaty in the agenda was regarded as a mark of progress because the Soviet deputy opposed it during the recent London meetings, says Reuter.