Evening star., 1947-10-27
Foreign Relief
Study Begins at
White House
Marshall Scheduled
To Address Meeting
Of Leaders Today

Approximately 100 representa-.
tives of industry, labor, agricul-
ture and the general public con-
ferred with Government officials
in a major discussion of the for
eign aid program at the White
House today.
The closed. off -the-record meeting
was to cover a wide range of other
international and domestic prob
lens and was to be addressed by
Secretary of State Marshall late
this afternoon Secretary of Com
merce Hartman, Secretary of
Agriculture Anderson. Undersecre-
tary of State Lovett, Assistant Sec
retary of State Thorp, Charles H.
Bohlen, counsellor for the State
Department, and John J, McCloy,
head of the International Bank,
were also listed as speakers.
John R. Steelman, assistant to the
President. called the meeting to or
der. at 10 am. in accordance with
letters he sent out last week inviting
the various leaders to the conference.
Presidential Press Secretary
Charles G. Ross said there will be
no announcement concerning the de-
tailed nature of the discussions. He
added that the President did not
plan to attend the discussions.
Facts to Be Presented.
at is simply case of presenting
facts to them" Mr. Ross explained.
1T is not to enlist support for any
particular policy. I think good
word for this meeting would be that
it is a seminar for an exchange OF
views and a briefing of these rep
resentative citizens on many cur
rent situations and problems fac
ing the NationSoday,'
The complete list of persons at
tending the conference was not
available Immediately because some
of those invited last week were un.
able to attend. Mr.. Ross disclosed,
however, that among those present
we're Henry Ford II. James B.
Conant, president of Harvard Uni
versity; Charles Luckman, head OF
the Citizens Food Committee;
James Patton, president of the
Farmers Union; Roy Howard,
newspaper publisher. and others.
Mr.. Ross explained that the inW-
tation list included many of the
prominent citizens who during the
war frequently were called into con-
sultation here with Government Of
ficials on various problems affecting
the national economy and interna-
tional relations.
Business Advertising Urged.
|! Public service advertising by busi-
ness firms can clear up many mis-
understandings that jeopardize the
food conservation and foreign aid
programs, the businessmen were told
at luncheon by Charles G.. Mortimer.
jr., chairman of the Advestlsing
Council and participant in the
White House meeting.
1T. will not and should not, stop
all criticism OF the program, nor is
it designed to-" said Mr., Mortimer,
a vice president of General Foods
Corp. But he predicted that it
would "straighten people out" on
many basic misconceptions and
Misunderstanding"
He said that If business. through
its advertising, can contribute 10
solution of national and world prob
lens. I'VE will all have reason TO
breathe a little easier"
Meanwhile, two Senators who
usually disagree on foreign policy
matters voiced hope that the spe-
cial session of Congress set for
November II will limit its work to
emergency assistance and leave the
dollar, long-range Mar
shall plan to the regular session.
Senators Offer Views.
This view came from Senator Con-
nally, Democrat, of Texas, former
chairman of the Foreign Relations
(See FOREIGN AID. page A-5.)