Evening star., 1949-04-05

| Joined by Mrs. Acheson and later
by members of the Presidents en-
tourage. 1t was an elegant assem-
blage. bright with corsages and
new spring hats.
BY 2::50 pm. nearly everybody
was in place. A half hour before
the signing desk had received a
final busting at the hands OF Roy
Horne, 5709 Oats street NE, a
colored employe of the Depart
ment of Public Works. Now a
serious young man in blue suit
John w. Foley. 106 Everett street,
Chevy Chase View. Md. State
Department treaty adviser -
stepped to the desk and deposited
the treaty in its exact center. The
stage was set.
At 3:03. the Foreign Ministers
Of the II visiting powers and their
emissaries to this country. were
led onto the upper platform by
Stanley Woodward. State Depart
ment protocol officer. The audience
rose as Britain's Ernest Bevin. first
of the group. made his appearance,
familiar, bulldog figure peering
at the bright lights through his
thick glasses. Last came Secre-
tary of State Acheson. tall and
suave. in a gray double breasted
suit, not a hair of his moustache
out of place. The audience re-
sumed its seats as he stepped to
the rostrum.
Calm Voice Sets Tone.
Mr.. Acheson set the tone OF the
ceremony with his opening words
of greeting. His voice was calm,
so low-pitched that 1t barely car
ried over the amplifiers to the
back of the hall. There were no
fighting phrases-it was as If he
wanted only to reassure the world
to give it confidence. His tone
was echoed by each of the Foreign
Ministers, whom Mr.. Acheson in
troduced In the alphabetical order
of their countries names-the
same order In which they later
signed the treaty.
Only one of the speakers.
Italy's Count Carlo Sforza. used
gestures to punctuate his words.
They were mild, careful gestures.
This venerable diplomat was an
exile from Mussolini's Italy. He
carried his white bearded chin
high yesterday. as though proud
in the thought he had led his
people back into the family of
civilized nations. Only two of the
other ministers, Lester B. Pear
son of Canada and D. U. Striker
of the Netherlands, emphasized
their points by even so much as
a nod of the head.
Yet few speakers ever have had
a more attentive audience than
those IL. Scarcely a foot was
shuffled in the auditorium. even
though three of the group-Paul-
Henri Spaak of Belgium, Robert
Schuman Of France and Joseph
Bech of Luxembourg-delivered
their speeches In French and then
sat by while interpreters read the
English text. Every word sank in.
So great was the precision OF
the ceremony that the Ministers
speeches were concluded ahead OF
the estimated schedule. The Ma
rine Band filled in with a few
minutes of other music before
striking up Hail to the Chief" as
Mr.. Acheson announced "the
President of the United States"
Mr.. Truman entered from the
rear of the stage, smiling broadly
Escorted by the Secretary. he
made the rounds of the Foreign
Ministers and mission chiefs,
shaking hands with each, speak
ing a few words Of greeting. Than
he stepped to the rostrum. opened
the brown leather notebook he
had been carrying under his left
arm, and began to read. It was
crisp and to the point. At the end
Mr.. Truman snapped the book
shut and walked back to a seat at
the rear of the platform.
I'VE will now proceed" said
Mr.. Acheson. with the signing
OF the North Atlantic treaty"
Mr.. Foley. the serious youna
man in the blue suit. stepped back
| to the desk on the lower plat
form. From a drawer, he ex-
tracted an inkstand. a box oi
pens and two blotters. He placed
two of the pens in the lnkstand
then turned and nodded 10 Mr.
| Woodward, who had taken a posi-
ton on the right of the lower
platform. MIR. Woodward called
| for the representatives Of Bel
gium. The parade was on.
| AchesOn Signs for United States.
The Ambassador or Minister ac-
credited to Washington. as well as
the Foreign Minister. signed for
each visiting country. Only in
the case Of the United States was
there one signature-Mr. Ache
sons.
Mr.. Foley overssw the whole
operation. Carefully. he pointed
out to each signer where TO place
his name. As each one signed
Mr.. Foley took the pen from his
hand. wiped 1t on a bit of cloth
and handed 1t to him as a SOU
venir. As each pair Of delegates
left the lower platform. Mr.. Foley
put two fresh pens in the ink
stand, ready for the next pair.
For ths representatives Of a'