Evening star., 1948-12-31
Truman and Top Aides
Confer Today on New
Program in Congress

Program IN congress
President Truman scheduled
q conference today with top lieu
tenants for a review of the
administrations legislative pro-
gram in the new Congress start
ing Monday.
Both foreign and domestic issues
were likely to be discussed at his
meeting with four congressional
leader at $3.50 pm.
Invited to the conference were
Vice President-elect Barkley, who
will preside over the new Senate;
Representative Rayburn of Texas
who will become Speaker of the
House again; Senator Lucas of Il
linois, due to become Senate major
ity leader and Representative Nc
Cormack of Massachusetts,, sched-
uled to be the House majority leader
when the Democrats organize the
new Congress.
The Democratic leaders are ex-
pected to discuss with Mr.. Truman
the range of subjects to be included
In the Presidents State of the
Union message. The message will
be delivered next Wednesday before
a joint sssion of Congress.
To Cover Wide Range.
AT a news conference yesterday
Mr.. Truman indicated that the an
nual message will cover wide range
of subjects when he remarked that
it would cover the water front.
At the same news conference, the
President also:
/. Stood pat on his statement OF
a few days ago that certain Russian
leaders are anxious for an under
standing with the United States
But he refused to name the leaders
and said there would be no ampli-
flcation of his remarks in Kansas
City.
2. Laughed off reports that Sen
stor Barkley had been sent to
Europe with authorization to ne
gotiate with Soviet leaders believed
friendly to this country. Saying it
was remarkable to what extent spec
ulation can go, Mr.. Truman sug-
gested that reporters just keep on
speculating, adding that it was good
Denies Order to Rearm Japan.
3. Said that all he knew about
reports that 1t. Gen. Walter Bedell
Smith, Ambassador to Russia, wants
to resign was what he had read in
the newspapers. Gen. Smith re-
turned to Washington yesterday.
4. Denied that Gen. Macarthur
had orders to rearm Japan. The
State Department later described
reports that Gen. Macarthur had
suggested such move as totally
without foundation"
S. Indicated that no decision on
further aid to China will be made
for many weeks. He noted that
question need not come up until
April when the present $400, 1000, 900
China laid program is due to expire.
"a State Department spokesman said
there was no foundation for re-
ports that the administration had
decided against any new aid to
China unless Generalissimo Chang
Kai-shek resigns)
Indorses Lovett Statements.
6. Indorsed statements by Under
secretary of State Lovett condemn
ing % a Chinese Communist
charge that Generalissimo Chang
Kai-shek and other Chinese govern
ment leaders are war criminals, and
(2) the arrest of Cardinal Minds
zenty in Communist Hungary.
Z. Said he had no further plans
to see Nine. Chang, who is in this
country seeking aid for the Chinese
Nationalist government.
Senator Barkley may give the
President a first-hand report on
conditions in Europe. The Vice
President-elect returned yesterday
from a trip abroad with a party
which included Air Secretary Sym
ington, Ambassador Smith and
others just about the time Mr.. Tru-
man was holding his news confer
ence.
Asked if he agreed with Mr.. Tru-
mans statement that some Russian
leaders would like to become friendly
NTH fhn T1oitod Ctofoc Ap,bo &C d0r
Smith replied:
Il can't say, because by acquaint-
ance with the Politburo is very
limited"
The Politburo headed by Premier
Stain Is the Communist agency
which controls Russia.
Gen. Smith reiterated a desire to
leave his post. He submitted his
resignation before leaving Moscow.
Denials by the President and the
State Department Of reports con-
cerning suggestions for rearming
Japan came after Soviet Ambassador
Panyushkin demanded an explana-
ton in the Far Eastern Commission.
Mr.. Panyushkin made public a
statement to the commission in
which he cited press reports Ito the
effect that Gen. Macarthur has sent
to Washington report in which
it is sug,s ,sested to re-establish the
japanese army, and the question OF
re-arming Japan is raised"
The Ambassador did not identify
the press reports he had in mind.
There have been recent reports that
Gen. Macarthur had suggested
review of the American military po-
sition in Japan in view of the spread
of communism in China. But this
reconsideration Of United States
military policy in the Western Pa
cific would not be the same as re-
establishing the japanese army.