Evening star., 1945-04-15
Presidents Request
Leads to Dramatic
Reversal of Plans
BY GARNETT D. HORNER.


otov will attend the United Ma
tionS Security Conference at San
Francisco as the result of a
request by President Truman to
Premier Stain, the White House
disclosed last night.
This was a dramatic reversal of
previous Soviet plans to leave to
youthful Andrei A. Gromyko, Am
bassador in Washington, the leader
ship Of the Russian delegation at
the conference called to create a
world security organization.
The White House announcement
revealed that President Truman
on his first full day in Office Friday
directed Ambassador w. Averell
Hartman to assure Premier Stain
that Mr.. Molotov's presence at San
Francisco would be welcomed as
an expression of earnest co-opera-
ton in carrying forward plans for
formulating the new international
organization as laid down by Presi-
dent Roosevelt and confirmed by the
Yalta Conference"
Invited to Washington.
Then yesterday, Premier Stain
sent word to the President that Mr.
Molotov would attend the confer
ence, the statement added.
Mr.. Truman's message also said
he would look forward with pleas
ure to visit by Mr.. Molotov to
Washington" There was no indica-
ton whether the Soviet leader will
be able to come here before the San
Francisco meeting, which opens
April 25.
This first direct action of the new
President in internatio affairs
was regarded as highly significant.
Prospects for success of the Sc
curity conference were frightened
considerably and the quick response
of Premier Stain to Mr.. Truman'S
request was viewed as an extra
ordinary demonstration of friend
ship.
Seen Aiding Relationship.
The exchange appeared to have
sent the President off to a good
start in carrying on a close rela-
tionship with Premier Stain which
had been developed by the late
President Roosevelt to facilitate the
Soviet cooperation that is essen
tial to maintenance of peace in the
future.
The nature of the action carried
the implication, too, that Mr.. Tru-
man will not be disposed to take
a back seat in Big Three affairs
with Premier Stain and Prime
Minister Churchill, nor to appease
the Soviet Government in matters
considered important by this coun-
try.
There had been no attempt to hide
official disappointment here at the
announcement several weeks ago
that Ambassador Gromyko would
head the Russian delegation at San
Francisco, although other nations
had appointed their representatives
on the foreign minister level. This
arrangement had disappointed the
late President Roosevelt and Sec
retary of State Stettinius. They
felt that Russia was displaying in
difference in not sending Mr.. Molo-
tov.
Lacks Molotov's Prestige.
While Mr.. Gromyko is regarded as
an efficient young Ambassador, he
does not have the rank and prestige
which Mr.. Molotov will bring to the
conference. 1t presumably would
have been necessary for him to tele-
graph to Moscow for instructions
on any important points coming up
at San Frapcisco.
Great Britain's chief representa-
tive at San Francisco, Foreign Sec
retary Anthony Eden, already is in
this country. He attended Mr..
Roosevelt's funeral yesterday and
will stay on until time to 60 to the
conference. This will afford an un-
usual opportunity for Mr.. Truman,
Secretary Stettinius and Mr.. Eden
to confer on problems confronting
the Big Three. Presumably, Mr..
Molotov would join these confer
ences if he is able to leave Moscow
Immediately.
1t was presumed that the State
Department had been preparing
recommendations that the Soviet
Government be asked to reconsider
and send Mr.. Molotov to San Fran
cisco at the time of Mr.. Roosevelt's
sudden death Thursday.
Confronted by the delicate de-
cision, Mr.. Truman did not hesitate
in forwarding the request to Pre-
mier Stain.
The action was announced in
brief statement handed to the re-
(See MOLOTOV, Page A-4D