MISSION TO MOSCOW

Chronicle (Levin), 11 October 1948, Page 5

MISSION TO MOSCOW

(N.Z.PA.-

—Reuter,

Truman Abandons His Intended More

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Received Sunday, 7.15 p.m. • WASHINGTON, Oct. 9. President Truman announced today that, on the adviee of Seeretary of State, Mr. Marshall, he. had abandoned a plan to send Chief Jnstiee Fred Vinson to Moscow for peace talks. The announcement followed two eonferenees with Mr. Marshall who returned today from Paris. A British United Press report from Paris says United Nations' delegates were shoeked and dismayed by reports that President Truman had considered sending a special embassy to Moscow to discuss the Berlin situation with Marslial Stalin. Delegates shgred the fear that a diselosure that President Truman was even contemplating such a move might endanger the whole of the negotiations on the Berlin dispute within United Nations. Aceording to the Chicago Tribune, the plan developed at White House without consultatiou with IMr. Marshall. "It was advanced as a dramatic move to attempt to solve the Berlin crisis wliicli would have probaldy a salutory efi'ect on Presidem rruman 's presidential campaign, ' ' said the Tribune. "It is believed Mr. Marshall declared that tlie mission would reduce his stature at United Nations' Assembly and in any dealings with the Russians in the present critical state of Russo-American relations. President Explains President Truman, in a statement today, said that when he talked with Mr. Marshall by teletype on October 5, he had told him he was pai'ticulariy concerned over the attitude taken by the Soviet representatives regarding the atomic problem. ' ' I said I was wondering whether their attitude did not reflect a misunderstanding in the minds of the Soviet leaders, so serious from the standpoint of world peace in general, that we would be remiss if we left. undone anything that might eonceivably serve "to dispel it." The President added that he had asked Mr. Marshall whether any useful purpose wcnld be served by sending Mr. Justiee Vinson to Moscow in an effort to make the Soviet leaders understand tlnseriousness and sincerity of the people of the United States about these matters. "Mr. Marshall deseribed to me the situation which he faced in Paris and in the light of his report and the possibilities of misunderstanding to which an unilateral action, however desirable otherwise, could lead at present, I decided not to take this step. My talk with Mr. Marshall has been gratifying to me. I was glad to hear his report of the unity which has prevailed between ourselves and the I'rench and British representatives in Paris in all phases of the handling of the Berlin crisis."

Intransigent Russians. Mr: Marshall called a press confer-' enee today and categorically ' denied that there had been a difference between the President and himself over the proposal to send Mr. Justiee Vinson to Moscow. He said reactions in Paris to press reports of dill'erences were most unfortunate. Asked what was the purpose of the proposed Vinson mission, Mr. Marshall said Prestdent Truman was concerned with the broad question of 'peace in , general but in particular with the atomic problem. ' ' The President, due to his very special posxtion, was deeply concerned by the intransigent attitude of the Soviet representatives during the United Nations' debate on atomic problems, " Mr. Marshall said. He opposed the Vinson mission because the Security Council was about to discuss Berlin and atomic problems and there was a danger of a misunderstanding ot any such unilateral action by United States. The strongest card of the Yfestern Powers now was unity. Mr. Marshall reiterated that the United States was ready to negotiate with the Soviet in the Foreign Ministers' Council at any time, provided the Berlin blockade was lifted first. He added that he hoped President Truman 's statement would have a calming efi'ect on the fears in Europe that the United States was about to make a singlehanded approach to the Kremlin. Reporters at the press conference interpreted Mr. Marshall 's remark that the President had ' ' a very special posi- . tion, " as an indication that Mr. Marshall was convinced the Soviet did not have the atomic homb. Asked what he meant, Mr. Marshall replied that the President 's position was unique in all the world hut he would not elahorate. Reporters clearly understood that he meant that President Truman is the oniy human who has final control oi the atomic homh.