Evening star., 1949-01-31
Truman Wi||inq
1oMeet Stain
In Washington
Earlier Statement
On Tolks Repeated
After Soviet Gesture
fTert OF Stain InterpieU on
Page AS

fTert OF Stain InterpieD on
Page A-6.)
The White House repeated to-
day that President Truman is
Wiling to meet Prime Minister
Stain - in Washington - but
spokesmen for the democracies
were generally cautious in their
response to the Soviet leaders
expressed willingness to confer
with Mr.. Truman on peace and
disarmament.
In answers to an American news
mans question, MIR. Stain said yes
terday ne had mo objection" to
discussing peace pact" and plans
for a gradual reduction OF arms as
we'll as joint Americana Russian
declaration of peaceful intentions
The Soviet chief replied to another
question by saying he saw mo
objection" to lifting the Berlin
blockade If the establishment of a
western German state were post
poned, If the Vests counter
blockade were lifted and If a meet
ing of the Big Four foreign min
listers was called to consider the
problem.
Words Considered Hopeful.
Mr.. Stains words were considered
hopeful by Western statesmen but
1t was pointed out that they meant
little in the absence of Soviet
actions to back them up.
Presidential Press Secretary
Charles G. Ross told White House
newsmen today that the American
government has received no off,
cial word of Mr.. Stains reported
desire to confer with Mr.. Truman.
Asked If there had been any
change in the Presidents attitude
toward a meeting with the Russian
Premier, Mr.. Ross said that the
last he knows was given at a press
conference several months ago
when Mr.. Truman repeated he
would be glad at any time to see
Mr.. Stain in Washington.
Mr.. Ross said the President was
naturally aware of Mr.. Stalin's
latest pronouncement because he
reads the newspapers "assiduously.
Russians Expect Meeting.
If foreign diplomats were skepti-
cal. the Russian people repeatedly
were not. The Associated Press re-
ported from Moscow that many Rus
SLAMS were convinced their leader is
going to meet President Truman.
State Department Press Oficer
Michael j. McDermont said the
United States had not received "any
request, communication or approach
of any Sort from the Soviet gov
ernment relative to a Truman Stain
meeting.
Chairman Connally OF the Senate
Foreign Relations Committee, how
ever, viewed the Stain statements as
encouraging.
THE statement of Premier Stain
Is significant development in
foreign relations" he said. "It holds
possibilities for peace and harmony.
1t will be welcomed by those who
are anxious to preserve world peace
and to stimulate international har-
mony."
Senator George, Democrat, of
Georgia, another member of the
committee, said he didn't know
what importance can be attached"
to the Stain statement but 'it
might be explored"
Senator Wiley. Republican, of
Wisconsin, another committee mem
ber, said he saw no objection to a
meeting between Mr.. Truman and
Mr.. Stain but added:
Words are cheap: what we want
is deeds"
Officials Move Slowly.
1t was considered improbable the
State Department would take any
official cogr1izance of Mr.. Stains
answers to the questions submitted
by 'Kingsbury Smith, general Euro
pean director of International News
Service.
Officials were expected to move
slowly, not wishing to give an inn
preston the United States ever
would reject genuine Russian
move toward a settlement with the
West.
No change has been reported in
the State Departments attitude,
however, since former Undersecre-
tary Robert Lovett said recently
the United States would welcome
actions to suit the peaceful words
uttered by Communists all over
Europe in the last few weeks.
One thing seemed certain-that is
that Mr.. Stain had some deliberate
purpose In mind when he decided to
answer the questions. He receives
frequent requests from correspond
ents for such comment as he gave
out today and the conviction among
American and other foreign experts
on Russia is that he only replied to
them when he has some specific OBJ
jective in mind.
At Lake Success, N. Y, Warren
r. Austin, United States delegate lo
the United Nations, sounded the
views of most western delegates
when he said the Stain replies must
be studied thoroughly. An Asso-
ciated Press dispatch said MI Aus
tin reiterated a statement made to
o news conference recently that he
always welcomed moves toward
peace but did not know how far the
Russians would 60.
Russian sources were silent on
the Stain words, saying they had
no information. But 1t was recalled
here that Jakob A. Malik, Soviet
Continued on Page A-6, Column ~
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