TRUMAN’S IDEA OF SINGLE-HANDED APPEAL TO MOSCOW

Grey River Argus, 11 October 1948, Page 5

TRUMAN’S IDEA OF SINGLE-HANDED APPEAL TO MOSCOW

Dropped to Preserve Unity of Western Powers (Rec. 10.15) WASHINGTON, Oct. 9 President Truman announced to-day, on the advice of the Secreiai j oi State, general fviarshali, he had abandoned a plan to send Cnier justice Fred Vinson to Moscow lor peace? talks.

The President’s announcement followed two conferences with General Marshall, who returned to-day from Paris.

a British United Press report, from Paris, says; "United Nations' delegates snocKed and dismayed by reports that President Truman had conquered tne sending of a special emissary to Moscow to discuss the Berlin situation with M. Stalin. The delegates shared in a fear’ that the disclosure that President Truman was even contemplating such a move might endanger the whole negotiations on the Berlin dispute within the United Nations. . According to the “Chicago Tnoune the plan to send the Chief Justice developed at White House without consultation with General Marshall. The paper said: “It was advanced as a dramatic move to attempt to solve the Berlin crisis, which would have, probably, a salutory effect on President Truman’s Presidential campaign.” The tribune added that it was believed that General Marshall declared that such a mission would reduce his stature at the United Nations Assembly, and in any dealings with the Russians in the present, critical state of RussoAmerican relations. . President Truman, m a statement to-day, said that, when he talked with General Marshall, by teletype on Tuesday last, he had told him that he was particularly concerned over/ the attitude taken by the Soviet re-\ presentatives regarding the atomic problem. The President continued: 1 said that 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 thay might conceivably serve to dispel it.” The President added he had asked General Marshall whether any useful purpose would ge served by the sending of Chief Justice Vinson to Moscow, in an effort to make the Soviet leaders understand the seriousness and the sincerity of the people of the United States about these mat-, ters.” “General Marshall described to "me the situation which he faced m Paris, and, in the light of his report and possibilities of misunderstanding which any unilateral action, however desirable otherwise, could lead at the present, I decided not to take this step,” said Mr Truman. “My talk with General Marshall has been gratifying to me. I was glad to hear his report of the unity which has prevailed between ourselves and the French and British representatives in Paris in all phases of the handling or’ the Berlin crisis.”