--- a/NEWS
+++ b/NEWS
@@ -1,6 +1,10 @@
 Summary of changes for version 2.1:
 ----------------------------------
 
+  * Commas in global statements are no longer special.  They are now
+    treated as command separators.  This removes a conflict in the
+    grammar and is consistent with the way Matlab behaves.
+
   * It is now possible to declare static variables that retain their
     values across function calls.  For example,
 

--- a/src/ChangeLog
+++ b/src/ChangeLog
@@ -1,5 +1,9 @@
 Fri Mar 28 15:33:11 1997  John W. Eaton  <jwe@bevo.che.wisc.edu>
 
+	* parse.y (Vwarn_comma_in_declaration): Delete.
+	(symbols_of_parse): Delete DEFVAR for warn_comma_in_declaration.
+	(decl1): Don't allow commas in declarations.
+
 	* lsode.cc (struct LSODE_OPTIONS): Handle integer options.
 	(print_lsode_option_list, set_lsode_option, show_lsode_option): Ditto.
 	(lsode_option_table): Add element for step limit.

--- a/src/parse.y
+++ b/src/parse.y
@@ -75,12 +75,6 @@
 // If TRUE, generate a warning for variable swich labels.
 static bool Vwarn_variable_switch_label;
 
-// If TRUE, generate a warning for the comma in things like
-//
-//   octave> global a, b = 2
-//
-static bool Vwarn_comma_in_declaration;
-
 // If TRUE, generate warning if declared function name disagrees with
 // the name of the file in which it is defined.
 static bool Vwarn_function_name_clash;
@@ -249,9 +243,6 @@
 // Maybe print a warning.  Duh.
 static void maybe_warn_missing_semi (tree_statement_list *);
 
-// Maybe print a warning.  Duh.
-static void maybe_warn_comma_in_decl (void);
-
 // Set the print flag for a statement based on the separator type.
 static void set_stmt_print_flag (tree_statement_list *, char, bool);
 
@@ -614,12 +605,6 @@
 		    $1->append ($2);
 		    $$ = $1;
 		  }
-		| decl1 ',' decl2
-		  {
-		    maybe_warn_comma_in_decl ();
-		    $1->append ($3);
-		    $$ = $1;
-		  }
 		;
 
 decl2		: identifier
@@ -2393,19 +2378,6 @@
     }
 }
 
-static void
-maybe_warn_comma_in_decl (void)
-{
-  if (Vwarn_comma_in_declaration)\
-    {
-      warning ("comma in declaration not interpreted as a command separator"); 
-
-      if (reading_fcn_file || reading_script_file)
-	warning ("near line %d of file `%s'", input_line_number,
-		 curr_fcn_file_full_name.c_str ());
-    }
-}
-
 static int
 warn_assign_as_truth_value (void)
 {
@@ -2416,14 +2388,6 @@
 }
 
 static int
-warn_comma_in_declaration (void)
-{
-  Vwarn_comma_in_declaration = check_preference ("warn_comma_in_declaration");
-
-  return 0;
-}
-
-static int
 warn_function_name_clash (void)
 {
   Vwarn_function_name_clash = check_preference ("warn_function_name_clash");
@@ -2454,9 +2418,6 @@
   DEFVAR (warn_assign_as_truth_value, 1.0, 0, warn_assign_as_truth_value,
     "produce warning for assignments used as truth values");
 
-  DEFVAR (warn_comma_in_declaration, 1.0, 0, warn_comma_in_declaration,
-    "produce warning for commas in declaration statements");
-
   DEFVAR (warn_function_name_clash, 1.0, 0, warn_function_name_clash,
     "produce warning if function name conflicts with file name");