Evening star., 1948-05-11
Whole Truth Of Soviet
Bid for Understanding
Unknown 10 People
Deniols Of White House
Through Tydinss Do Not
Disclose All the Fuets
By Dstid Laurence

Disclose All the Foets
By Dsvid Laurence
The American people are en-
htled to know all Of the truth about
the Efforts Of Eussia TO reach an
understanding with the United
States. The deniak from the White
House issued through Senator Tyd-
inu over the week end DO not pre-.
sent all Of the truth. There was
such IN effort on the initiative Of
. high Russian ofiicial and the facts
are well known IN the State De-
partment and among certain com.
nittees On Capitol Hill.
The Maryland Senator made .
radio speech over the week end say
ing ne had asked President Tru-
man about reports that Russia aus-
rested 4 conference between Stain
and the President Just prior to the
Cseehoslovak crisis and that the
President answered With Q cate
sorical no" Mr.. 1ydings con-
tnued:
"Ihe President said there was ab-
soi,,tely not one iota Of truth IN the
report. He said that neither Mr..
Stain nor anyone else representing
Russia had made any suggestion to
him or to the American Govern
n1ert."
Ambiguous Answer.
Technically speaking, the Presi-
dent rave Senator Tydings an ac-
ctrate though ambiguous answer.
II Is true the approach wasn't mace
to Mr.. Truman and because 1t was
unofficial and informal 1t might also
be arsued that according to diplo-
matte forms the approach was not
made ito the American Govern
ment"
Mr.. Tydings went on to say IN
his speech that many Of US have
heard this manufactured rumor
about Russia wanting to meet with
the President to work out q solu-
tion Of European and world prob
lens. We have heard 1t said that
Mr.. Truman would not confer with
Russia. This is sample OF the
rrouasanda that unfortunately con-
flses our vell.meaning people
hut what are the facts7
Late In January Of this year Rob-
.rt Murphy, who occupies the hign
nost Of political adviser to General
Clay. commander In chief OF Amer.
ican forces In Germany. received
at his home In Berlin = Russian
of,ciaI who serves in the opposite
nost AZ the top political adviser TO
the Russian commander IN CHIEF IN
Berlin.
The Russian onicial arrived oe.
tween eight and nine O'Clock ana
staved until two in the morning.
The initiative was entirely that OF
the Russian ofiicial. All manner OF
subjects relating to outstanding
i.sues between the two countries
we're canvassed. During the even.
tns. the Russian oficial suggested
that President Truman and Mar
shal Stain meet in Moscow. Mr..
Murphy replied that Mr.. Truman
had expressed himself often as op-
posed to 4 trip to Moscow and would
gladly meet Stain in Washington,
Whereupon the Russian off1cial
stated that this could not be ar
ranged but suggested third meet
ing place, namely Stockholm.
Hinted Certain Steps,
At the time Of the conference,
the Russian ofnciAl limited ct Ger
tain steps that would be forthcom-
inr unless m understanding could
be reached. It u believed he Va
referring TO steps subsequently,
taken in csechoslavakia and FIN
land. It was limited that further
exploration Of the issues might make
unnecessary such steps ~ were BE-
ing contemplated but which were
not mentioned.
At the time Of the meeting At
Mr.. Murphy's house, the Marsnah
plan was very much In the public
eve. It Is conceivable that the
President and Secretary Marshall
felt that to engage In 4 conference
might be misunderstood as . weak
er1ins of American policy or As q
willingness to make concessions that
could not be made. Whatever the
reasons for American rejection OF
Russia's initiative, the fact Is that
the incident happened and was not
i,lst manufactured by "wen-mean-
ing" persons. .
Mr.. Murphy Is an experienced
diplomat Of the American foreisn
service and he made complete
report on the affair and supple
n1ented It with oral conversations
at the State Department shortly
afterward when he came to Wash
ington. It is believed that Mr..
Murphy's report was not relished
and there Is q rumor that he was
punished for his fervor in recon-
mending that the matter be pur-
sued. He was not permitted sub
seuuently to take the top level role
that he deserved at 4 London con.
ference on the economic planning
for Germany's three zones.
At q time when the American
people are being asked to submit to
another draft law, 1t falls with Ill
grace for the administration to sup
press the facts about what seems
TO have been a Russian effort to
reach an understanding with the
United States. Certainly the Tyd-
ings-Truman conversation consti-
t,1tes 4 technical denial. The whole
truth should be revealed even II
the administration for good reasons
Of It's own decided not to accept the
Russian offer or chose for the sake
Of expendiency to regard It as
without significance" or AZ likely
10 prove futile anyway. Evasion
begets distrust. Candor begets con-
fdence.
.tRepreduet!on rikhts ressryedl
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