TRUMAN'S CHALLENGE

Chronicle (Levin), 14 June 1948, Page 5

TRUMAN'S CHALLENGE

. (N.Z.P.A -

— . Reuter t

Russia Must Prove Desire For' Peace

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Received Sunday, 8.50 p.m. NEW YOKK-, June 12. President Trumaii today challengecl Russia to prove her desife for peace by ceasing her taeties of "coercion and open aggresr sion.-" • ' - The President was addressing the University of California at Berkeley. He declared that Russia was largely responsible for the: world being' in a "twilight period between a war so dearly wpn and a peaee that still eludes our grasp." The Soviet 's refusal ' to ' work with her wartipie allies for world peaee and recovery was "the bitterest disappointment of our time. " The President said the United States had hoped the Soviet would accept full partnership"in a peaceful world community, The reeord, however, was clear for all to read. The Soviet had rejeeted the invitation to participate freely and on equal terms in a great cooperative programme for the reconstruction of Europe. The Soviet had 'constantly majioeuvred for delay and for propaganda effeet in every international conference. She had used indirect aggression against a number of nations in Eastern Europe g,nd extreme pressure against others in the Middle East. The United States had no hostile or aggressive designs against. the Soviet or any other country. It was not waging a "cold war" and would always respond to lionest negotiations looking towards genuine settlements.

President Truman said Russia could make a genuine contribution to world peaee by withdrawing aid from the guerrillas in Greece and by permitting North and South Korea to unite. It was possible for ditferent . economic systems to live side by side and in peaee provided oue of these systems was not determined to destroy the other hy force. Stalin "Prisoner of Politburo" President Truman deseribed Stalin as "a prisoner of the Politburo" who is fiof. permitted to keep agreements made, on behalf of his country. The President was speaking at Eugene (Oregon) during ya stng made by his special train in whfctv lie was touring the western States. Ile said he approached the Potsdam meeting in 1945 with eomplete t'riendliness for the Russians. "I like okl Joe Stalin. Ile is a good fellow, but he is a prisoner of tlie Politburo. He would make eertain agreements aiid he would keep those agreements, .but they vvon't let him keep them," said Mr. Truman. The United Pr'ess says this is not, the first time the President has given sueh an evaluation of Stalin, but it is the first time for public consumption. The most recent occasion when he said Stalin was a prisoner unable to earry out his nation 's agreements was under secret circumstanc.es. On that oceasion he enjoined the reporters to regard his remarks as off the reeord.