NEWS OF THE WEEK
IT looks as though the fate of the Moscow Conference would re- main uncertain to the end, for the Russian attitude is always unpredictable and when Mr. Molotov is unexpectedly mild it by no means indicates that he is on the point of definitely yielding. On Monday he received in a less critical spirit than might have been expected the important speech in which Mr. Bevin outlined Britain's proposed policy regarding Germany. Nothing in it was new, but it crystallised previous discussions usefully. The first requirement was a genuine economic unity of Germany ; the second the use of all exports at present to pay for imports ; the third a fair apportion- ment between all four Powers of the costs of occupation ; the fourth, the establishment of central German administrations with executive powers. The clash between the programme and the demands hitherto maintained by the Soviet' delegation is obvious. Russia wants repara- tions out of current production -(instead of the use of production to buy needed imports); she wants Four-Power control of the Ruhr, but refuses joint Four-Power control for Germany as a whole ; and she is still calling for the abandonment of the economic union be- tween the British and American zones. On the face of it there is going to be great difficulty in bridging the gulf between these two conceptions. The Americans agree almost completely with Mr. Bevin, the French, who want coal from the Ruhr before any goes elsewhere as exports, support the demand for Four-Power control of the Ruhr in the hope that they may get what they want that way. To all appearance, therefore, something like deadlock prevails. Yet Mr. Bevin, Mr. Marshall and M. Molotov have all affirmed their belief in the possibility of agreement. That this will be full agreement covering the whole field seems most unlikely. We are reduced to expecting no more than that when the Foreign Ministers separate their dissensions, on certain points at least, may be less acute than when they met. Some part of the limited hope may perhaps be fulfilled.
