Evening star., 1949-03-30
Peace Rallies Tour
Status Is Uncertain
After Russian Ban.
BY the Assoeioted Press

HIIVI NUSSIuII DUlI,
BY the Associated Press
NEWARK, N. j.. Mar. 30
Stripped Of its Russian star at
fractions by State Department ac-
ton. a projected Nationwide tour
of world peace conference del
egates faltered today.
The State Department ruling,
in effect, told 18 Iron Curtain Wis
itors to go home, now that they
have completed their mission to
last week-end's Cultural and Sci
entific Conference for World
Peace in New York.
Despite the decision, Millard
Lampell. the author. said last
night this tour will 60 on" Mr..
Lampell acted as master of cere-
monies at the first of the proposed
series of mo more war" rallies
here. Other speakers indicated
the tour will be carried out.
Proposed Itinerary.
A proposed itinerary listed New
Haven, Philadelphia, Baltimore.
Detroit, st. Louis, Denver and Los
Angeles.
The State Department said the
American visas of the Commu-
mist delegates admitting them as
officials of their governments were
good only for the New York meet
ing. although it would consider"
official requests from their gov
ernments to extend the visas. No
such requests have been made.
A conference spokesman in New
York said a telegram had been.
sent to Secretary of State Ache
son asking him 10 revoke the
order.
He said, however, the Commu-
mist delegates definitely will not
appear" at any of the scheduled
meetings unless Secretary Acheson
reverses his ruling.
The telegram. the spokesman
said, charged the State Depart
ment "of notifying the world it
has slammed shut the door to the
exchange of cultural relations be-
tween the United States and other
countries"
Program Reshuff1ed.
The department has maintained
the New York gathering was de-
signed as a sounding board for
Communist propaganda-a charge
denied by the sponsors.
The Council of the Arts, Sci
ences and Professions, sponsors OF
the tour, hastily reshuffled last
nights program. The order ban
ming the Communists was issued
less than IL hours before the rally
began.
Still on the playbill were dele
gates from countries outside the
Soviet sphere of inf1uence-Great
Britain, Cuba and French West
Africa.
But gone from the list was the
rally's heralded star feature
Dmitri Shostakovich, Russian
composer.
The audience of about 5000
persons was told of the Govern
ment action. The house lights
were dimmed. Then a single spot
light shone on the empty piano.
Pianist Fills In.
Later, Ray Lev. concert pianist,
filled in for Mr.. Shostakovich. She
played a piece by George Gersh-
win and three short compositions
by Shostakovich He had been
scheduled to play the second
movement of his own Fifth
Symphony
About 40 pickets marched in
orderly lines outside the audito-
rum. They represented the Cath !
olic War Veterans and other
veterans groups who protested the
rally as Communist inspired.
In Washington the State De-
partment said notices were sent
early yesterday afternoon to the
Russian. Czechoslovakian. Polish
and Yugoslav Embassies.
Delegates from those countries
have a different status from those
of other nations. American law
forbids admission of Communists.
Delegates from Communist-con-
trolled nations were given official
visas so they could attend the New
York conference.
To Get Individual Notice.
The department said that now
that the New York conference is
over, it assumed the delegates will
leave within a reasonable time.
Later Attorney General Clark
said in answer to question:
THE express purpose for which
these visas we're issued has now
been ended"
He said he has instructed the
immigration Service in New York
to get in touch with the delegates
individually and tell them that
they must leave as soon as travel
ARRANGEMENTS can be made.
There we're 19 delegates from
iron curtain countries at the New
York parleys. One. Jiri Hronek
of Czechoslovakia. has been au-
thorized to remain to serve as an
observer at a meeting of the In