The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-07-17

presidential yacht Potomac served the meal. After lunch the party went to the rear porch overlooking a lake and posed for pictures taken by three U. S. army and three Russian official photographers. No pictures were made of Stalin ar- irving and leaving.
 An earlier announcement that the big three conference was open ing directly after lunch still stood. An official statement on it was expected late in the day.
 The announcement of Stalin's visit with MT. Truman was the first official disclosure that the generalissimo had arrived in Pots dam Unofficial sources had re- ported his arrival yesterday after noon.
 Information from the tightly se- questered conference area still was skimpy. It was impossible to say at once whether the Human Stalin meeting was a get-acquainted chat or dealt in business. Some quarters regarded it as highly probable that MT. Truman sought to get down to business without delay.
 At any rate, the conference was due to get under way this after noon, either with 8 personal meet ing Of the three Allied chieftains or plenary session without the leaders themselves.
 Dull explosions of Allied demoli- tion work in the ruins of Berlin were heard clearly in Potsdam as the conference shaped up. They were understood to have gone un- noticed by the official delegations.
 For days demolition teams have been working through Berlin, blow ing up damaged German tanks, pill- boxes and partially wrecked build ings which imperiled pedestrians.
 Another sober note was shift in the weather, from bright sunshine to murky chillness.
 Indications increased that world shipping and the problem of feeding the EHngry millions of many na- tions would get top priority in the discussions as President Truman sent hurry-up call for Armiral Emory s. Land, head of the United States war shipping administration.
 Early today there was still no word from the Russians that Stalin was in Potsdam, but it was accepted generally in other quarters that he arrived late yesterday.
 It was believed that he did not see MT. Truman and probably won't until all principals get together to- day in the picturesque palace which was untouched by the Allied blitz against Berlin.
 MT. Truman had planned to see neither principal until at the con- ference table but Churchill came to call yesterday and the president held what was described informally as a pleasant sociable chat. How ever, it probably amounted to 8 quick rundown of conference mat ters. This discussion was at Chur- chill's initiative.
 Admiral Land came into the con- ference picture as a result of pre- conference discussion in Washing ton. Before embarking on the Au- gusta, the president had directed Land to stand by for quick trip to Potsdam.
 Late yesterday MT. Truman order ed Land to proceed to Potsdam as soon as possible, accompanied by an appropriate staff.
 This obviously pointed to im- portant discussions of world ship ping and food administration be- cause land is the king-bee of the United States shipping situation and has been a participant in many other information discussions on the same level, including both Que. ,Deo evrtYcTenco a1o aN o6 the Churchill conferences in Washing. ton.
 Secretary of War Henry L. Stin- son and Gen. Henry H. (Hap) Arnold, chief of the ArTny's Ali Forces, were also on hand in tht American compound and have al. ready participated in the daily com. bined chief of staff discussions.
 Last night President Truman had as his dinner guests Edward F Pauley, American chairman of tht Moscow Preparations Commission Joseph c. Davies, special presi- dential envoy, W. Averell Hartman ambassador to Russia, James F Byrnes, American secretary of state and other top members of the American party including severa aides.
 The discussion over the dinner table almost certainly was prepara. tory to the conference. Davies had been in London shortly before com. ing to Potsdam.
 After dinner the president and his guests walked to a concert by the combined Army band. MT. Truman listened intently while the merged bands of the 29Sth and 300th ground forces played under the command of Chief War rant Officer Frank Rosato of New Orleans, La.
 The president retired early after another brief session with Byrnes. MT. Truman is anxious to gel down to business. This is 6 com pletely new experience to him and he is going into it just as he ap- preached his problems when he wal the county judge of Jackson l County. Missouri. He will uss | plAin talk, with no beating around the bush.
 His chat with Churchill yesterday was highly nnrdiaL chnzAh8 q