TRUMAN REJECTS STALIN'S PROPOSALS

Chronicle (Levin), 5 February 1949, Page 5

TRUMAN REJECTS STALIN'S PROPOSALS

Received Friday, 6.35 p.m. ' WASHINGTON, Feb. 3. President Truman today rejectetJ finally Mr- Stalin 's proposal for a bilateral conference in Russia, Polanrf or Czechoslovakia to discuss a peace pact between tke United States and Russia. . Mr. Truman said Mr. Stalin 's proposals had been eompletely and thor oughly answered by the Secretary of State (Mr. Dean Acheson) yesterday after eonsultation with him (Mr. Truman). .

The President added that the United States would not enter into any talks with Russia, or any other Powers on the world situation whieh were outside the framework of the United Nations. Mr. Truman recalled tliat he had invited itr. Stalin to Washington during the Potsdam Conference in 1945, and said he^was willing to see his .anytime he came here. He had not received any notification from Mr. Stalin of his intention to make the visit, but, if he did, he would tell Mrs. Truman to prepare a guest room in the White House. The President was • obviously unwilli'ng to comment in detail on the Russian leader's proposals for a conference made through a.news agency. He

declined to eomtaent on any question put to him at Press eonierence. A British Foreign Office spokesman said the Britsih Government fully ' agreed with Mr. Dean- Aeheson 's views on the two statements by Mr- Stalin to the International News Service. No offieial comment on Mr. Stalin 's remarks was contemplated. The Minister of State (Mr. Hector McNeil) referring to Mr. Stalin 's statements in a speeeh at Sheffield, said that if Russia was in earnest it was difficult to understand why she bypassed the United Nations- whieh had Berlin on its agenda, and why Mr Stalin neglected the norma! diplomatic methoas-and --told- new-s-papers -that he wanted to meet President Truman before telling the President himself. Reuter's Paris correspondent says most of the French newspapers received Mr. Stalin 's offer to, meet President Truman co'olly. ' . The Associated Press Rome corres pondent says pro-Communist news paper carried bold healdines claiming that Mr. Truman had rejected Mr. Stalin 's proposal for direct peace talks. I Reuter 's Moscow correspondent says ports that the first reaction of t.he Russians, who heard abput the Americau statement declinihg Mr, Stalin 's offer to meet Mr. Truman in Russia or Eastern Europe, was ohe of deep disappoiut.ment.