Evening star., 1946-09-19
Truman Has Talk With Byrnes
By Te|etype> First Direct Contact
Since Wallace Attack on Po|icy
Messages Are
Exchanged for
20 Minutes
BY Joseph A. Fox

tary of State Byrnes had a 90
minute conversation" by Wash
ington-Paris teletype today in
their first direct contact since
their foreign policy came under
the attack of Secretary of Com
merce Wallace a week ago to-
night.
The White House had nothing to
say Of the nature of the exchange
Press Secretary Charles G. Ross told
reporters of the contact, but would
not say what passed between the
President and Mr.. Byrnes, or
whether the exchange was cordial
Or strained.
1t was generally assumed, however,
that the President assured Mr.
Byrnes of his support in the contro-
versy raised by Mr.. Wallace which
had brought vigorous expressions of
displeasure from the Secretary of
States colleague, although he him
self has been silent.
In Paris, the Associated Press
tion to the Peace Conference said
Mr.. Byrnes had no comment on his
overseas conversation with the
President. A spokesman said rumors
that Mr. Byrnes might fly to Wash
ington for talks with the President
were silly"
Effort to Phone Fails.
The President went to the White
House maproom for the exchange
with Mr.. Byrnes in Paris under the
system which permits each to die
tate his remarks to a teletype ma
chine operator and get an immedi-
ate typed answer back on the
machine.
Mr.. Truman tried to reach Mr.
Byrnes by telephone earlier today
but atmospheric disturbances pre-
vented their conversation, Mr.. Ross
said
There has been a report that the
President already had sent Mr.
Byrnes assurances of his support
through Acting Secretary of State
nothing about that.
In the meantime, word came from
Paris this morning that Mr. Byrnes
aides are more perplexed than ever
by developments yesterday when
Mr.. Wallace agreed not to make any
more statements or speeches until
the Paris Peace Conference is ended.
No, Deal, Says Ross.
These aides were represented as
feeling that President Truman
should make known definitely his
support of Mr. Brynes.
Mr.. Ross denounced today as "ab-
solutely untrue" a published report
that the gag to which Mr.. Wallace
submitted yesterday was the result
of a deal in which the President
promised to do what he could tc
advance his, the Secretary's, ideas
for changes in American policy.
There was nothing even resem.
bling a deal as l can testify from
first-hand knowledge" said Mr.
Ross, who told his morning press
conference that he was present dur
ing most of the conference yesterday
between the President and Secre
tary Wallace, which lasted nearly
two hours and a half
Mr.. Ross also said President Tru
man advised him that Bernart
Baruch, the American representa-
tive on the United Nations Atomi,
Energy Commission, called at tn,
White House yesterday ito max,
sort Of progress report" on tn,
work of the commission.
War Talk Charge Denied.
Mr.. Baruch's plan for control O
atomic energy has also been crit
cized by Mr. Wallace.
Soon after Mr.. Wallace left tn
White House yesterday, the Presi
dent made public letter from Sec
retary of War Patterson and Sec
retary of the Navy Forrestal de
nouncing as untrue Wallace charg
that zone school of military think
ing" advocates a preventive war
against Russia before that countr
makes atomic bombs.
There is no basis for this state
ment" the War and Navy chief
told the President. There !
no such military thinking in tn
War and Navy Departments. w
know of no responsible officer il
the Army or Navy who has eve
advocated or even suggested a plal
of attacking Russia"
Mr.. Wallace had aired his view
in this respect in letter to M
Truman July %, which was mad
public Tuesday over the President
disapproval, as repercussions con
tinued at home and abroad owe