Evening star., 1952-08-15

The rejection touched off a tart
long-range exchange-the first of
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Other Political Stories. Poee At
the campaign-between the Presi-
dent and the Republican candi-
date who hopes to succeed him.
1t also brought out a sort of
mix-up over whether Gen. Eisen-
hover received the invitation, or
an inkling of it, before Gov. Adlai
Stevenson of Illinois, the Demo-
cratic presidential candidate, paid
his visit to the White House Tues
day for a briefing.
While Republicans criticized
the invitation as an "after-thought
gesture" Mr.. Truman told news
conference late yesterday the De-
fense Department and the Gen.
tral Intelligence Agency had in
formed Gen. Eisenhower a week
or 10 days ago he could receive
any information he wanted on the
international situation, and
weekly reports on conditions.
Gen. Eisenhower's aides in
Denver were quick to say that
neither the Republican candidate
nor any one else in his office re-
membered any such message.
Some hours later. it developed,
there had been a slipup. Gen.
Omar N. Bradley, chairman of the
Joint Chiefs OF Staff, acknowl-
edged in a statement that Presi-
dent Truman had asked him a
week ago to convey this infor-
nation to Gen. Eisenhower but
that he had not yet done so.
Gen. Bradley said he had dis
cussed the matter with Secretary
of Defense Lovett and they had
decided it could wait until Gen.
Eisenhower comes East later this
month.
Unaware Of Timing Factor.
Being unfamiliar with political
matters" Gen. Bradley said, "it
never occurred to me that the
timing of the notification MIGHT
become an issue, or I would have
gotten in touch with Gen. Eisen-
hover Immediately after my con-
versation with the President"
Associates of Gen. Eisenhower
IN Denver were reported by the
Associated Press as figuring that
the Republican nominee more
than held his own with President
Truman in the exchange.
In rejecting the presidential in
Vltatlon to attend cabinet lunch
con next Tuesday and receiving
the briefing, Gen. Eisenhower said
ne wanted to remain free to speak
out against the administration s
foreign policy.
Mr.. Truman told his news con.
ference he planned no private
conversations with Gen. Eisen-
mower and that anything he
might have said to the Republi-
can nominee could have been
quoted.
Charges Some Garbling.
Ihen he added tartly that Gen
eisenhower has quoted a great
many things already and some
mad been garbled. But. he said
that's all right.
Mr.. Truman did not elaborate
on what had been garbled by Gen.
eisenhower. The White House
secretariat told reporters they
would have to ask Mr.. Truman
ABOUT that at his next news con-
ference.
The President refused to COM
ment on Gen. Eisenhower's criti-
clsm of the Stevenson visit to the
white House as further indi-
cation that the Democratic nomi-
nee is captive of the administra-
ton. He said to let the question
rest for awhile and when the cam
palgn gets rolling it would be an
swered.
AS for his own role, Mr.. Tru-
man said he was trying to help
one candidate and beat the other.
vague on Campaign Role.
MIR. Truman was pleasantly
vague about any details of the
part he plans to take in the cam
paign.
On the briefings question, how
ever. he elaborated to some ex-
tent and said that it was decided
some time ago to supply both the
Democratic and Republican cam
didates with periodic reports on
the international situation. He
took occasion to refer reporters
to a 1851 Senate document which
said "the conduct of American
foreign policy in the past decade
has, in general. been bipartisan in
its aspects"
Republican leaders, in state
mentS in connection with the ex-
change over the invitation to Gen.
Eisenhower to visit the White
House for a briefing, called for
vigorous campaigning on inter-
national issues.
Senate Republican leader.
Bridges told reporters the Demo-
Gratis want Republicans to share
(See BRIEFING, Page A-3.)