U.S. PROMISES CLOSE STUDY OF STATEMENT

Chronicle (Levin), 31 January 1949, Page 5

U.S. PROMISES CLOSE STUDY OF STATEMENT

Received Monday, 11.5 a.m. ' .WASHINGTON, Jan. 30. The State Department and White HouSe undertook today a detailed study of Marshal Stalin's statement. No official word of President Truman's reaetion- was immediately available. The department declared, however, that' the Soviet Government had made no f ormal move to initiate a meeting between the two leaders of the States. • Thfe department's Press officer, Mr. Michael McDermot, said: The United States Government has not had any request, communication or approach of any sort." It was immediately recalled that President Truman had repeatedly asserted that he was always ready to meet Marshal Stafin, but he had just as frequently insisted, however, that he would not leave Washington to do this. It seemed clear to diplomatic authorities in Washington that Marshal Stalin's statement is the "big push in Russia's ^o-called current peace offensive," and that the recent pronouncements by Mr. Toghatti and other European Communist leaders, urging a Stalin-Truman meeting, were designed as a "curtain raiser" for today's big development. While Washington digested this latest pronouncement from the Kremlin, the only positive thing' Arherican official . sources would have quoted as saying was that Marshal. Stalin's statement was. regarded as important, and deserved and wouid receive the closest study. Initial Congressional reaetion ranged from an attitude of welcome to one of cautious interest. Senator Tom Connolly, chairman- ©f ■ the--Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said: "Marsnal Stalin's statement is a signiflcant development in foreign relations. It holds possibilities for peace and harmony.* .It will be welcomed by those who are anxious to preserve world peace and Stimulate international harmony."