The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1952-04-18
Governor Byrnes Criticizes
President Truman In Article
~ 20 cREAcH

about him and of substituting '.fic-
ton for history" in describing
u. S.-Russian relations in the dan
serous months Of the developing
cold war.
The South Carolina governor,
who was Mr.. Truman's secretary
a state from 1915 until early 1947,
replied in q scathing article pub
lShed In Golfers magazine to
statements Mr.. Truman made
about him in the recent book mir.
President
Byrnes went beyond denying
o. he has done before--that he got
i personal dressing down from Mr..
Truman right after the Moscow
Conference Of 1945. BY Mr.. Tru-
mans account, the President read
Byrnes . memo saying he was
tired Of t'babying the Soviets.
Byrnes said he never heard Of any
such memo, and then:
HE charged that Mr.. Truman
vas quick to use strong Ian
guage" against the Russians but
'.he did not provide the iron fist
10 back UP his words.
7-He said s'the Soviets will well
come" Mr.. Truman's statement
that this country was almost
forced to agree" at the Pofsdam
Conference--right after Mr.. Tru-
man became President--to Rus
sian occupation Of East Poland
and Polish occupation Of Germany
east Of the Oder River.
She denied that the u. S. was
eager at Potsdam to get Russia
into the war against Japan. Byrnes
said he hoped the japanese would
surrender before Russia could en-
Tar the war. Mr.. Truman, he said,
lied me to believe he shared my
view"
l-Byrnes denied quitting as sec.
Rotary Of state because Of any
scrap with the President. He said
ha resigned solely because he suf-
fered from a heart ailment. And
he said that for at least two years
after his resignation he and Mr..
Truman remained on cordial
terms.
In addition TO the Golfers arti.
Gle, Byrnes made public q medi-
cal record Of his heart condition
described as coronary scIerosis---
and three letters from MIR. Tru.
man to him. designed to show that
the break ketween them did moi
come until Byrnes opened fire on
Mr.. Truman's domestic policies in
1919.
"The evidence seems plain. /"
Byrnes said, shat he became OF.
Tended with me not because Of
anything ! did or did not do while
secretary of state. but because
-. opposed some Of his domes.
TIC program *.
He appears determined to con.
struct q record against me, with,
out regard for the facts. But mol
even the President Of the United
States has the right to substitute
fiction for history.
II saw then Gin Iszsl, and still
zee, . dangerous movement to
ward q socialixcd existence for ali
Americans.
Americans should place loyalty
70 country above loyalty to any
political party or any political can
didate. Mr.. Truman cannot under
stand that"
Time after time Byrncs--once !
close friend and Senate colleague
u Mr.. Truman-flatIy deniec
statements made BY Mr.. Truman
~ Mr.. President or attributed
- him In an earlier book. iona
than Daniels .sThe Man of hide
pendencc.
These statements added up 4
On impression that Byrnes. In MIR
lrumans view, wasn't being firm
enough with tic Russians ant
wasn't keeping the President in
formed on diplomatic develop
ments.
Daniels, for instance. quotes Mr.
Truman as saying that "Byrne:
lost his nerve in Moscow ans
that "Ryrnes GOT the real riot &C
after Moscow .
Then in mir. President. Mr.
Truman himself says be personal
" protested 10 Ryrnes against be
ing kept In the dark about Mos
COW Developments. The presiden
also says he told Ryrnes: 'un
less Russia is faced with an iron
fist and strong language anoahel
war Is In hie making.
Byrnes commented sartiy in ID,
Golfers article:
Two aud bali years after b,
claimed he wss tired OF hahyinl
the Soslets. Ar. Truman on Jun,
~. ls<S, at Eugene, Ore, declares
his affection for Stain. saying. !
IKE old Joe. He is 4 decent Gel
low. but be is prisoner ~ III,
pulithuro.
Actually, BsrneS said, he hin
self adopted q policy al firm
ness and patience" toward the *
visss months before Mr.. Trurnal
was ready ior such a step.