Evening star., 1947-02-25
Russia Supports
U. 5. as Trustee
Of Pacific Isles
Moscow Note Declares
Transfer Would Be
Entirely Fair
By Gornett D. Horner

Russia has agreed to United
States trusteeship over former
japanese inundated islands ir
the Pacific because of this coun-
try's predominant roh in the
war against Japan, Secretary o1
State Marshall announced today
He told news conference that h,
had just received a communication
from the Soviet government, saying
it felt it would be entirely fair" t.
transfer the inundated islands to tn,
United States.
Gen. Marshall said the Soviet DO
sition takes into account the fac
that American armed forces playee
decisive role in the matter of vic.
tory over Japan and that this coun.
try bore incomparably greater sacri.
fees in the Pacific war than othel
Allied nations.
Only Russia, Gen. Marshall said
has concurred in the American
trusteeship proposal, which was sub
mitted to the United Nations last
week.
Other Difficulties Mount.
This note of harmony in Soviet
American relations came as diff
culties with Moscow appeared to be
mounting on some other issues.
Gen. Marshall refused any de-
tailed discussion about a Soviet
American stalemate in Korea where
the Russians are building up con-
script army in their occupation zone
On another point of tension, Gen.
Marshall said he considers closed
the incident involving a Soviet pro-
test against Undersecretary of State
Acheson,s recent description of Rus
sian foreign policy as aggressive
and expanding"
Firmly rejecting the original pro-
test last week, Gen. Marshall then
informed Soviet Foreign Minister
Molotov that Mr.. Acheson's remark
was a restrained comment" made
in the line of duty in answering
questions before a congressional
committee and should not be con-
sidered hostile to Russia.
A second note from Mr.. Molotov
described Gen. Marshall's reply as
mot convincing" Gen. Marshall
said today he does not intend to
reply to the latest Molotov COM
munication.
Hodge Quits Negotiating.
The Korean problem was pointed
up by 1t. Gen. John r. Hodge, COM
mander of the American occupation
forces in Southern Korea, who told
a news conference here last night
that he has given up trying to
negotiate with Soviet officials in
Korea for uniflcation of the coun-
try under a provisional government
Gen. Marshall said he had called
Gen. Hodge to Washington for con-
sultation in connection with exam
instion of the whole Korean ques-
ton.
He said he has group working on
the Korea problem from every
standpoint, and wanted to have
Gen. Hodge on the ground to pro-
vide first-hand information on the
situation there now.
Gen. Hodge already has been in
conference with this group, Gen
Marshall said, although he has not
seen him personally yet.
The Secretary told questioners he
did not anticipate the Korean ques-
ton being raised at the Big Four
Foreign Ministers Conference open
ing in Moscow March 10 to consider
German mad Austrian peace settle
ments. He left the way open, how
ever, for efforts to work out a set
tlement in discussions outside the
conference with Mr.. Molotov or So
Wet Premier Stain.
He said he could not say whether
he would make such an effort until
he saw the circumstances in Mos
COW.
Romania Gives Assurances.
Gen. Marshall also told reporters
that:
Romania has assured the United
States it will comply fully with
President Truman's stipulation that
American food in famine-strecken
Moldavia be distributed without dis
elimination. Gen. Marshall noted
that the American Red Gross is
paving $3.500,000 for food diverted
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