Foreign News: TWO PLANS FOR EUROPE

On the table, as the Geneva talks opened, lay two sets of plans for Germany and Europe-one Soviet, the other Western.

THE WESTERN PLAN

THE ALLIES have agreed on a slightly refurbished version of the Eden Plan which the Russians turned down last year at Berlin (TIME, Feb. 8, 1954). Provisions:

¶ Free, all-German elections to choose a constituent assembly.

¶ An all-German constitution, drafted by the assembly.

¶ Formation of a constitutional government, superseding the West German Republic and the Soviet satellite regime.

The Allies insist that a reunited Germany must be free to make or refuse to make alliances. West Germany is already a member of NATO. The West recognizes that Bonn’s signature cannot bind a united Germany, but expects that a reunited Germany would prefer to join the West. If it does, both Britain and France are ready to “take account of the legitimate needs of Soviet security,” even possibly to guarantee that an all-German army should be no larger than West Germany’s proposed twelve divisions. The U.S. is considering an arrangement by which the Western half of a reunited Germany would remain armed inside NATO while the present Soviet zone would be demilitarized, except for a radar fence.

Next step: to work out an informal arrangement between the seven-nation West European Union and the eight Warsaw Pact nations of Eastern Europe. The West will not consider any dismantling of NATO or of U.S. bomber bases, but it is willing to discuss a step-by-step reduction of armaments by both blocs.

THE SOVIET PLAN

THE RUSSIANS start from this proposition: they will discuss German unity only if a united Germany is kept from joining forces with the West. The Kremlin proposes:

¶ Some kind of “merging” of the West and East German governments.

¶ This will be followed by all-German elections, with special provisions to keep “antidemocratic elements” off the ballot, and outlawing of “Fascist, militaristic and other organizations which are hostile to democracy.” In the Soviet definition, almost anyone, including Catholics, Lutherans, Conservatives and Socialists can be “hostile to democracy.”

¶An outright prohibition against German alliance with “any power” that fought against Hitler-neutrality by decree.

The Communists also insist that a reunified Germany stop at the Oder-Neisse line, leaving Silesia and Pomerania in Red Poland and most of East Prussia to the Russians. Both Red Poland and East Germany have served notice that this border is final and “forever.”

The Kremlin also proposes a grandiose Pan-European security system in which 30 or more nations, including the Soviet Union but not the U.S. (except as an “observer”), would mutually guarantee the peaceful intentions of all.

The inclusion of so many features that Germany and the West have previously rejected suggests that Moscow has no intention of negotiating a German settlement at Geneva, and that by inviting Chancellor Adenauer to visit the Kremlin in September, it has so forewarned West Germany.