Evening star., 1947-09-04
Truman Attends Opera
As He ReIaxes Amid
Hemisphere Good Will
By Joseph A. Fox
Stor Stoff Correspondent


RIO DE JANEIRO, Sept. A
President Truman, who has sud-
denly developed into an ardent
mountain climber, planned an
other ascent on Corcovado
(Hunchback) Mountain today,
but had to give 1t up because of
rain.
Yesterday he climbed 1000 feet
in street clothes in an orchid
hunting expedition. The President
and his personal physician, Brig.
Gen. Wallace Graham, returned
from that trip with one bloom and
six plants.
Still relaxing in an atmosphere of
hemisphere good will, Mr.. Truman
went to the municipal opera last
night to see the second act Of
Puccinis la Tosca."
The President was accompanied
bv his daughter Margaret, his chief
of staff, Admiral William D. Leahy,
and William D. Pauley, American
Ambassador to Brazil.
Audience Cheers Visitors.
The Mayor of Rio de Janeiro noted
their unexpected arrival in box
where Gen. Graham and Margaret
Truman already were seated. He
hurried up to shake hands, and the
audience arose and cheered for sew
eral minutes.
Mr.. Truman had expressed a de-
Sire to hear the Italian soprano,
Barbato, sing.
The President planned to spend
part of today on the 15-min-
ute speech he will make to the
Brazilian Congress tomorrow at 3
pm. washington time)
Mr.. Truman was heartened by the
virtually universal acclaim with
which the press of the Brazilian
capital has greeted his speech clos
ing the defense conference.
To Discuss Lawmaking.
The President is not thinking In
terms of policy matters in connec-
ton with tomorrow's speech which
will mark his second appearance
before legislative body of foreign
government, his June address before
the Canadian Parliament being the
first occasion.
The President and former Senator
Is expected rather to discuss law
making, drawing on his own ex-
periences in the role of legislator.
The speech will be broadcast To-
cally.
It developed today also that
President Truman may visit Puerto
Rico and the Virgin Islands on his
homeward journey, but plans are
still indefinite.
Press Praises Address.
A cross-section of editorial and
news comment in score of daily
papers in Brazil shows the press
is heartily in accord with Mr. Tru-
mans call for hemisphere solidarity
and thinly yelled attack on Russia
Tuesday. Only the Communist
Tribuna Popular was critical, slam
ming United States policy of i'm
perial expansion" and accusing Mr..
Truman of using Fascist Ian
guage."
Typical of the overwhelming fav-
orable comment was that in the
newspaper Correio de Mania, which
pointed out the difference between
United States and Soviet policies.
Iauding the former, it added that
'the world today is under the Wig
ilance of armed peace led by the
United States"
The formal do Brasil said Presi-
dent Truman's welcome by Brazil
ians showed the common sense OF
the people was mot changed by the
influence of discouraging doctrines" "
It called the demonstration a de-
feat for Russia.
After two days out of the public
eve. Mr.. Truman will get back I'M
the official groove this evening,
when he moves from his American
Embassy residence to Laranjeiras
Palace, the Brazilian Blair House.
Tonight Brazilian President Dutra
will give a small family dinner for
Mr.. Truman, his wife and their
daughter in the Government Palace.
Woman Reporter Excluded.
The White House settled a prob
lem in deciding definitely that Mrs.
May Craig, the only woman reporter
in the Truman party, may not re-
turn with her colleagues aboard the
battleship Missouri on Sunday.
Mr.. Ross said this was joint
decision of the Navy and White
House, which earlier had indicated
that complications involved in
billeting a woman aboard the battle
ship made the outlook dim for Mrs.
Craig. Other arrangements are to
be MADE for her return trip, Mr.,
Ross said.
Mrs. Truman and Margaret shop
ped Yesterday, while two members
of the presidential party, Admiral
Leahy and Rear Admiral James H.
Foskett, we're honor guests at a
Ministry of Marine luncheon. where
they received Brazilian decorations
as a tribute from President Dutra.