Evening star., 1945-06-24
BY ]. A. Fox

LILO AuAA-1iSNSCu CAACl 6ClASC VA Z
dent Truman on the international scene
at the forthcoming meeting Of the Big
Three will be watched with worldwide
interest.
One Of the principal arguments ad-
vanced for the fourth-term election of
the late President Roosevelt was his
relationship with Prime Minister
Churchill and Premier Stain.
Supporters made much Of Mr.. Roose-
velt's close association with the other
Chiefs Of State-particularly Mr..
Churchill-and his experience In diplo-
matte negotiations. Conversely, the un-
familiarity OF his Republican opponent,
Gov. Thomas E. Dewey, with these world
figures, and his lack of experience with
the complexities involved in winning
the war and working out = durable
peace, likewise was stressed. Mr.. Roose-
welt always was pictured as the indis-
pensible man for the troubled days
ahead, and there is no doubt but that
this weighed heavily in his November
victory.
Ties Were Strengthened
When President Roosevelt returned
from the Crimea after the second meet
ing with the heads of the British and
Russian governments, the Importance
of the role he filled was stressed anew.
Stories drifted out of the conference
telling how the other participants had
deferred to his views, and how, as the
result of his persuasive efforts, contro-
versies had been smoothed, and the
ties binding the principal allies
strengthened.
At the Council Table
Now, In the space Of a few months,
all has been changed Roosevelt rests
In his sun-swept garden on the Hudson.
A neophyte sits at his place at the
council table. The question being asked
Is Just how the United States will fare,
and what effect the changes Of Roose-
welt for Truman will have on world
relationships.
Those who have had an opportunity
to observe Mr.. Truman in his brief
weeks in the White House are convinced
that he will make out as the saying
goes. There is confidence that the
stature of this country will not be less
ened and that there will be no impair
ment of Allied relations that can be laid
to this change.
Churchill No Stranger to Him
Prime Minister Churchill is no
stranger to President Truman They
will be able to meet on the easy in
formality of earlier acquaintance. Mr..
Churchill already has spoken Of the
satisfactory contact established since
Mr.. Truman succeeded to the presi-
dency. And underlying all this, is the
important fact that the United States
and Great Britain still are committed
to a bitter war in the Pacihc-where
Russia is only an onlooker-and so must
continue to march side by side.
How will the President hit it of with
Premier Stain?
That, observers here feel, will depend
In large measure on the head of the
Soviet.
Stain has earned the reputation of
being hard man." who sets his sights
on a goal and then drives ahead. Gen.
orally, it seems, he gets what he wants.
Politically, he has Jared all right in his
dealings with the other allies.
Won't Be "Pushed Around"
In Mr.. Truman he will encounter
different type than the late President.
Where Mr. Roosevelt was suave, and
conversant with the language of dip
lomacy, the new President IS crisp, dl-
rect. He knows how to COMPROMISED
principles are not compromised. But
the hard school of practical politics
toughened him too, and the Missourian
also knows how to be about as stubborn
as one of the legendary mules of his
native State, when occasion demands.
Looks for Tangibles
Where Mr.. Roosevelt, despite personal
inclinations might take the long-range
view on some issue and allow himself to
be overruled, in the belief, or hope, that
a more satisfactory arrangement could
be made later, Mr.. Truman gives the
impression that under the same condi-
tions, he would be looking for some
thing more tangible than possibilities.
He is affabe friendly and knows the
virtue of humility-but those who have
watched him here for a decade, are
agreed that any time the President gets
the idea that he is being pushed
around all bets are off. And this is
doubiy true, where the dignity of the
Government is at stake.
There was something of this tempera-
ment In evidence when he suggested
that Russia send Foreign Minister
ence, instead of confning its principal
representation to the ambassadorial
level And again, he didn't hesitate to
challenge Russia's stand on freedom OF
discussion, at the San Francisco meet
ing, and win concessions on the opera
tions of the security organization
council.
Agreements Must Stand
And somewhat along the same line, 1t
may be stated that in the Truman code,
an agreement is an agreement and the
President may be expected to insist that