The Big Four in the Saddle
This week's meeting of the four Foreign Ministers is as much to be welcomed as it is long overdue. If it were not true it would be incredible that a Peace Conference should proceed without co- ordinated direction from the principal convening Powers, that five weeks should pass without even a formal meeting of the men respon- sible -for drafting the treaties under discussion. Now Mr. Bevin has decided to call halt to a situation deteriorating at a frightening rate. His suggestion for a conference has come none too soon : many will consider it has come too late, that the rift is already too wide to be bridged even by personal meetings at the highest level. But those who are pessimistic, and pessimism is amply justified, would do well to recall the previous meetings of the Foreign Ministers. Compared with the negative achievements of the present Paris Conference, the tenuous agreements they then arrived at seem positively startling. Compared with the amateur bungling of the present assembly, their slightly acrimonious relationships appear most admirably correct. Clearly, a decision to revert to the accepted principles of diplomacy is the right one. Microphones, spot-fights and movie-cameras have had an adequate trial and have proved to everyone's satisfaction—and it is, to date, the only satisfaction to be obtained from the Paris proceedings—that they are a hopeless encumbrance in the normal channels of international negotiations. What cannot be obtained by plenary session may be obtained round a table. What is most needed in Paris is direction from above. At last there are signs that it may be forthcoming.
