Evening star., 1947-04-25
Congress Group Seeks
First-Hand Report by
Marshall on Russians
BY The Assoeiotsd Pres.

NdISHdH OH MSyldnS
BY The Assoei1tsd Pres,
Legislators called today for a first
hand report on American Russian
relations from Secretary OF State
Marshall.
Their call came as Gen. Marshall
headed home from the Moscow For
eign Ministers Conference to tackle
q crowded schedule that may in
volve picking replacement for his
top assistant.
Reports circulated on Capitol Hill
that Dean Aclleson. who as Under
secretary has shouldered State De-
partment burdens at home since
Gen. Marshall left Washington
more than six weeks ago, has in
sisted anew that he be relieved OF
his duties soon to return to private
law practice.
If Mr.. Acheson steps out in the
next month or two, Robert Lovett
former Assistant Secretary Of War
and a close associate Of Gen. Mar
shall, Is regarded as possible sue
cessor.
Gen. Marshall's scheduled return
tomorrow is expected to signal COM
pletion of arrangements for him to
report TO the people by radio SUM-
day or Monday on the four power
conference, which ended yesterday
In a deadlock on all major German
and Austrian peace treaty issues
after As days of pickering.
President Truman Tended of
questions about the Moscow meet
ing at his news conference yester-
day, telling reporters to await Gen
Marshsll's report.
But members of the Senate For
eign Relations Committee, with -four
Balkan peace treaties pending be-
fore them, indicated they want more
detail than they believe Gen. Mar
shall will feel free to provide in any
public address.
Specifically, they want background
information on American relations
with Russia In the light Of the Sen
ate-approved proposal to bolster
Greece and Turkey against Com
rnunisrn with financial and some
military assistance. That measure
Is pending In the House and prob
ably will be passed next week. .
Senators Connally, Democrat, of
Texas and George, Democrat, of
Georgia said In separate interviews
they expect arrangements to be
made for Gen Marshall to report
to the committee behind closed
doors.
Hatch Suggests u. N. Action.
Meanwhile, legislators said that
what they view as the collapse of
the Moscow Conference ought not
to slow American efforts to crystal
lie world opinion in favor of a
settlement of European problems
before the next scheduled meeting
Of Big Four Ministers in London in
November.
Senator Hatch, Democrat, of New
Mexico, Foreign Relations Com
niittee member: suggested that the
United States might we'll carry its
case to the United Nations General
Assembly for an airing there.
Although he said no binding de-
cisions could be made by the AS
sembly, he believes it would be best
for the world to know just what has
caused the tighteSt deadlock be-
tween the Big -Four since the war
ended.
These issues can be debated and
we can see whether the rest Of the
world. outside OF Russia, supports
our contention or not" Senator
Hatch told a reporter. IT the rest
Of the world does, that ought to
strengthen our hand In future con-
ferences."
Senator Fulbright, Democrat, OF
Arkansas said he favors going a
step further If the United States is
not successful in new attempts to
get an agreement.
This seems to be the best argu-
n1ent In the world for United
States of Europe" Senator Full
bright declared. "If We can't do
anything with the Russians. let's see
what can be done without them"
Gen. Msrshsll's report to the Ma
ton and any information he subse-
quently may give Congress may
have an important effect on several
pending proposals, including the
Greek Turkish program, the Balkan
treaties and proposed $3.50, ,000, 900
European relief fund.
Chairman Vandenberg called the
Senate Foreign Relations Commit
tee together today to consider what
he described as changes in the
language" of some sections Of the
relief bill. He refused to say what
the changes involve.
The committee has put off action
on the Balkan treaties until it clears
the relief bill, although Gen. Mar
shall and former Secretary of State
James F. Byrnes testified in behalf
OF the treaties nearly two months
ago.
The committee has been given
notice that 1t will face a strong ef-
fort in the Senate to delay action
on the Italian treaty from a group
headed by Senator Bridges, Repub-
Mcan, of New Hampshire.
Senator Bridges told a reporter
he believes conditions have so
changed since the italian agreement
was signed last year that it is out
roded. AS an example, he said
the treaty forces Italy to leave its
border with Yugoslavia unguarded
I'VE are about to become engaged
h a program to sustain Greece
and Turkey against threats Of COM
munism on their borders" Senator
Bridges said, "and it doesn't seem
logical to leave Italy wide open to
the same threats"