Evening star., 1948-05-13
Truman and Marshall
Busy Apo|ogizing for
Declaration 10 Russia
Words Add to Confusion
OF American People on
U. S. Foreign Policy
By David Laurence

to clear up confusion that might
exist in the minds of Russians con-
corning American foreign policy,
Secretary Marshall and President
Truman now have succeeded in
bringing confusion to Americans as
to what really is American policy.
In the note, which way carefully
prepared inside the State Depart
ment q week ago and then read
orally by Ambassador Smith at Mos
COW to Mr.. Molotov, there appeared
the following sentence:
"As far as the United States Is
concerned, the door Is always wide
open for full discussion and the
composing of our differences"
Less than II hours after that
sentence gave the world the first
glimmer of hope that the "cold war"
might be settled, President Truman
issued a statement reviewing what
was in the note and summarizing it
as having two salient points" but
carefully omitting all reference to
the discussion of differences. The
omission was a major blunder. 1t
could make millions of votes for
Henry Wallace.
Marshalrs Statement.
Within q day afterward, the
Secretary OF State, Gen. Marshall,
also issued carefully prepared
statement in which the following
words appear:
"Gen. Smith did not ask for any
general discussion or negotiation.
We have had q long and bitter
experience with such efforts. Ihls
Government has no intention OF
entering into bilateral negotiations
with the Soviet government on mat
ters relating to the interests OF other
governments"
When Secretary Marshall speaks
of Gen. Smith" he refers to Am
bassador Smith, who is on leave
from the Army and serving as the
head Of the American Embassy IN
Moscow.
Just what does Secretary Marshall
mean? The words Of the American
note certainly indicate desire for
discussion of some kind. Why did
Mr.. Marshall feel 1t necessary to
apologize or to construe the words
of the American note as meaning
something entirely different from
that which the plain words say?
Maybe Mr.. Marshall felt that
Britain and France wouldn't like
"bilateral negotiations" on matters
affecting them. But the Russian
note didn't ask for "bilateral ne
gotiations," or anything so formal.
It merely welcomed the American
note with these words, now given
out as the official translation by the
State Department:
"The Soviet government shares
the desire, expressed In this state
ment by the Government OF the
United States of America, to better
these relations and Is in agreement
with the proposal to proceed with
tl,is aim towards discussion and
settlement of the differences be-
tween U.s."
Here Is a significant pronounce
ment and the State Department
bubbles about the difference be-
tween a proposal" and "declara-
tion," or the difference between a
negotiation" and discussion" p"
Foreign Secretary Bevin OF Great
Britain was far more realistic IN his
speech to the House Of Commons
when he said that he didn't under
stand that conference" was being
called. He urged preparatory ex-
change of views to get at precise
understanding, or else any subse-
ouent conference would be futile.
Revived Old Custom.
Ali that the Russians really have
done is to revive the old custom OF
direct talks through diplomatic rep
resentatives, rather than conference
BY Klieg light. They, too, see no use
in q multipower conference at this
time. But II Secretary Marshall
doesn't want Ambassador smith
even to talk about the world situa-
ton because it might affect the I'm
terests of other governments" then
the chances Of making peace are
hopeless.
The American people will rapidly
lose confidence in Gen. Marshall as
the right man to head the State
Department If he adopts too rigid
a position on what ought to be the
most flexible process in the whole
machinery of modern government
conversations between ambassadors
and foreign secretaries. In the old
days 1t was considered tactful for
two governments to talk first and
Law the foundation for conferences
with other governments. Resource
full diplomacy Is ready always to
discuss and talk about anything and
everything, but this does not neces-
sarily mean commitment or agree
ment in the early stages.
The peoples of the world are way
ahead OF their technical minded
and captious spokesmen who use
phrases that mean something one
day and then are disparaged the
next day. The big news Of the year
is contained In the dispatches from
Moscow telling Of the smiles OF
satisfaction and sense Of relief OF
the Russian people as they watched
the news bulletin boards telling
about the latest exchange OF notes.
This reveals that the Russian peo-
pie. like the American people, have
been worried lest inept government
tai leaders should lead them into a
needless war. Folks behind the
"iron curtain" apparently are hu-
man, too, and have had enough OF
war.
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