Lucky 115th

The first 114 sessions of the Council of Foreign Ministers--in London, Moscow, Paris, New York--had spread over 15 dismal, often heartbreaking months. Last week, at the 115th session, the Big Four agreed on every remaining major issue in the peace treaties with Italy, Bulgaria, Hungary, Rumania, Finland. They then turned to tentative--very tentative--discussions of their next job: the drafting of treaties with Germany and Austria.

A few days earlier, it had been proposed that the Council speed up its work and point for adjournment this week. Mr. Molotov agreed, since, he said, "the Soviet Government has decided to yield all along the line." These were tremendous words. Molotov agreed that free navigation of the Danube (his greatest concession in 15 months) should be written into the Balkan treaty texts.

Although he is mildly allergic to decisions by deputies, Molotov conceded that the Council's deputies could handle the odds & ends that remained. At the Council's next meeting, the treaties (God and the Kremlin willing) will be signed.

The first agreement on Germany was that certain smaller Allies with special interests--Belgium, The Netherlands, Luxembourg, Norway, Denmark, Poland, Czechoslovakia--should be consulted.

Mr. Molotov invited his colleagues to Moscow for the next meeting, said they need have no fear of "Russian frost." This in view of the warm amiability in the Waldorf tower, sounded more hopeful than ever.

The Ministers decided to meet in Moscow on March 10.

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