Evening star., 1949-12-22
Iron Curtain ENJOYS
Absent as Truman
Scores Mailed FIST,

The peoples of the world-both
Captive" and free-today had the
assurance of President Truman
that, so long as a mailed fist"
blocks peace, this Nation will
stand ready in self-defense."
In an address at Arlington Gem
etery yesterday, in which he ac-
cepted for the Nation an electric
carlton presented by the Ameri-
can Veterans of World War II as
a memorial to the dead of that
conflict. the President-obviously
referring to Soviet tactics-de-
clared:
Mankind is exhausted from the
ordeal of conflict. All men are
sick of blood-letting and hunger,
and weary of the troubles suffered
for so many years. If we could
mobilize world opinion among all
men who walk the earth, there
would never be another war.
This we cannot do alone, for
the earth is deeply divided be-
tween free and captive peoples.
There is no appeal to the brother
hood of men who live in daily
fear of the concentration camp.
Until the captive peoples of the
world emerge from darkness. they
cannot see the hand we hold out
in friendship. While they are
made to respond to our handclasp
with a mailed fist, we have no
choice but to stand ready in self
defense /.
Diplomats Attend.
Present at the colorful cere-
mony in the amphitheater were
many high officials, including top
military and Government leaders
of this country and many foreign
diplomats. Conspicuously absent
was Soviet Ambassador Panyush-
kin.
BY coincidence, Mr.. Truman
spoke on the birthday of Russia's
Premier Stain and nowhere in
his blast at barriers to peace did
he mention that country by name,
although illusions to the Russian
threat were plain.
Amvets had sent invitations to
diplomatic representatives of all
48 wartime allied nations and re-
ceived only one refuSal-from the
Russian Embassy. Officials said
Mr.. Panyushkin was sorry, but the
pressure of work" made him un-
able to accept.
OF the other Iron Curtain" ma
tions. Ambassador Kosanovic of
Yugoslavia was present, and al
though both had accepted invita-
tions. the Polish Embassy said
Ambassador Winiewicz of Poland
"at the last moment, was unavoid-
ably detained" and Czechoslo-
vakian Embassy officials said Am
bassador Outrata had been "out"
all afternoon and it was not Ger
tain whether he attended the
ceremony. He was not in evidence
there.
Carlton to Play Daily.
In presenting the carlton to the
American people. through Mr..
Truman, Amvets National Comdr.
Harold Russell declared, I'VE in
Amvets believe we speak for all
the veterans (of World War III
when we say that its intensity and
the degree of It's sacrifice demand
something more than a silent
stone as a symbol of the valor
of its heroes.
"The fulf1llment of this idea"
added the handless Navy veteran
who starred in the movie, The
Best Years of Our Lives" lis the
National Evening Hymn Memorial
Carillon-a living memorial. 80
This carlton, too, will sound for
ever, playing each afternoon at
the hour of retreat, days without
end"
Mr.. Truman said that, in
his opinion. the carlton was "A
most sensible memorial" In
scribed on the dedicatory plaque
are the words:
"While these bells ring,
Safely rest. Freedom Hues."
After the Presidents accept
ance speech, the English chimes
and Flemish bells of the $25,-
900 carlton rang out publicly
for the first time with the strains
of Nearer My God to Thee"
played by DR.. Arthur Bigelow, bell
master of Princeton University and
one of the worlds foremost caril-
lonneur, DR.. Bigelow then played
"Taps" and several other selec-
finnS