Four Men on a Horse

At one point of the Moscow proceedings last week, Ernie Bevin sighed and asked helplessly: "Where are we?" Said France's Bidault: "God knows." Cracked Bevin: "I didn't know He was a member of the Council."

Obviously, He was not. The godforsaken conference at last got down to brass tacks (thanks largely to George Marshall's drive). But it did not get down to anything like agreement. No sooner had the Ministers tackled the most important points of the German question (reparations, economic and political unification) than the U.S. and Russia--in almost so many words--called each other a couple of horse thieves.

Not Fast but Solid. The Soviet position was that Russia would not agree to Germany's economic unification unless Russia were assured German reparations from current German production. The French said that they would not agree to anything, either, unless they were assured coal from the Ruhr. This got George Marshall good & mad. He charged into the skirmish more fiercely than at any time since he came to Moscow:

"The U.S. categorically rejects the imposition of such a condition. . . . The Soviet delegation has suggested it will be possible for the French to have their coal and still leave enough coal in Germany to manufacture the reparations the Soviet Government demands. We do not agree. . . . The U.S. is opposed to policies which will continue Germany as a congested slum or an economic poorhouse in the center of Europe. . . ."

Marshall warned grimly: "Unless we can have ... a real desire to carry out both the spirit and the letter of our agreements, it were better none were reached. . . . We should not seek agreement merely for the sake of agreement. The U.S. recognizes that its responsibilities in Europe will continue and it is more concerned in building solidly than in building fast."

The remark that stung Molotov most was Marshall's indirect reference to the fact that Russia (at Potsdam) had agreed to German economic unification, but was now trying to up the price. Said Marshall: "It looks very much to us as though the Soviet Union is trying to sell the same horse twice." Replied Molotov: "We did not approach this problem of reparations from a point of view of merchants, but we do not want other merchants selling our horse at a low price without our consent." (The strong equine note in the discussion reminded observers of an old Russian proverb which applied to the Ministers' quadripartite steeplechase: "Even with four legs, a horse can stumble.")

A Lesson for Paris. While the conference stumbled on, Moscow's social life tripped on too. At one event (Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet at the Bolshoi Theater), Western observers noted an unfamiliar Russian folkway. As Molotov entered the Ministers' box, the audience began to applaud stormily; according to a fashion set by Stalin some years ago, Molotov applauded back. This went on for five minutes. Belle of the occasion was Mme. Bidault, in a grey chiffon Parisian evening gown that made Mme. Molotov look like a right-wing deviationist (see cut).

But perhaps the greatest stir was caused by George Marshall's walks through the streets of Moscow. On these occasions, he was followed by a Soviet guard detail which was followed by an American detail, which was in turn followed by a Russian guard. The rear was brought up by a crowd of curious small boys, who were having the best time of anybody in Moscow--which was not saying much.

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