Evening star., 1946-09-27
Conference
Continued From First Page.D
the question when it is raised anew
in the Foreign Ministers Council.
RyrneS Shows OptimiSm.

ByrneS Shows optimism.
/ Mr.. Byrnes was patiently optimistic
when he discussed the Peace Con-
| ference situation with neWsmen, in
the first formal pronouncement he
has made since the controversial
speech by Henry A. Wallace, Sep
tember II, criticizing American
| foreign policy
He said the peace parley had
moved no more slowly than the
United States Senate usually moves,
matter on which he speaks with
some authority, having been a
Senator for 10 years.
II have known the United States
Senate to take more time than this
on single BILL" Mr.. Byrnes COM
mented.
He added that he felt the time
had been we'll spent, since all ma
tions, large and small, had been
given an opportunity to express
their views on all phases of the
five treaties.
Discussing the chain of tense
events which followed the Wallace
speech, Mr.. Byrnes said President
Truman'S statement of support for
current American foreign policy had
given assurance to the world" of
the stability of that policy
The fact is" he continued, that
that policy is bipartisan policy,
and because it is supported by
Democrats and Republicans, it is
assurance to the world that regard
less of which party is in power, the
United States is going to stand by
the policy he (Truman) has fol-
lowed and is following today.
The President indicated that when
there is any change in that policy it
would only be changed after dis
cussion and conference among the
President, the Secretary of State and
congressional leaders"
Gag Rule" Imposed.
Mr.. Byrnes presided yesterday at
the first conference plenary session
in nearly a. month, during which
the delegates agreed without discus
sion to gag rule" designed to re-
strict speechmakers both in the
commissions and in the plenary
sessions.
The Big -Four previously had agreed
on such speech limitations, but some
anxiety. had been felt that small
powers might oppose it on the
ground that they would not be
dictated to" on such a matter bv
the Big Four.
During the same session, amid a
scene of gavel-banging, bell-ringing
and multi-lingual confusion, the
delegates were informed that Greece
had withdrawn her demand that
Northern Epirus be transferred from
Albania to Greece, even as Yugo-
slav delegate was on the floor making
a speech on the subject.
Edward Kardelj, Deputy Premier
of Yugoslavia, took the floor to
discuss the question, speaking in
Russian, when Mr.. Byrnes inter-
rupted with a statement about addi-
tions to the agenda. While that was
being interpreted, Kardelj began to
speak again.
Mr.. Byrnes raped his gavel, seek
ing order, and Ukrainian delegate
remarked from his seat that he
wanted Mr.. Kardelj's remarks trans
lated Mr.. Byrnes shouted and rang
bell, but Mr.. Kardelj finished his
speech requesting that the Greek
demands be taken off the agenda.
Mr.. Byrnes said it was already off
Complexion of Affairs Changed.
Mr.. Byrnes customarily gives the
appearance of joviality and good
humor even when he feels neither.
But last night there was no doubt
of the genuineness of his manner.
The conclusion was unmiStakable
that developments within the past
few days have radically altered the
complexion of world affairs.
1t has been obvious, for instance,
that Mr. Molotov lately has been
much less intractable. Agreements
on limiting the number and length
of speeches in committee have been
! reached without undue discussion.
In the past Mr. Molotov spear
headed and the Slav bloc followed
a program of consistent opposition
to any restriction on speaking.
This appears to have been changed.
Specifically at least, the here
tofore rigid East versus West pat
tern of nations has been broken.
The United States has been siding
with Russia against Britain in some
voting and Yugoslavia has found
herself opposed by a Russian vote
on another.
Mr.. Byrnes called the news con-
! ference tonight to give voice to
the optimism that he feels. There
may be several reasons for it
Stalin's statement, the clearing of
the air caused by Wallace's speech
or an event not yet apparent on
the surface.
Whatever the cause, the confer
ence has begun looking like a peace
conference for the first time and
Mr.. Byrnes showed it plainly.
German Treaty Next.
Confronting the foreign ministers
now is the question of a treaty
with Germany-the most difficult
of the lot thus far. Mr.. Byrnes
said the date for beginning work
on that pact has been set for the
latter half of November, in New
York.
Australia's human rights court
proposal was defeated finally in q
Peace Conference commission TO-DAY
after Soviet Deputy Foreign Min.
lister Vishinsky, ridiculed it as lin.
fantile" and worthy of being flee
only lin the waste basket"
Denouncing the plan, designed
TO guarantee fundamental freedom.
regardless of race, as "juridically
and politically illiterate," Mr.. Wish.
insky said it would be no less rea-
sonable to seek world court tt
guarantee equality and justice u
Indians in Asia and Negroes II