Evening star., 1953-07-10
Purge Of Beria by Ma|enkov
Was Seen by Boh|en> Already
Flying Here to Talk With Dulles
Big Three PorIey
Opens With Eye
On KremIin Move


E. Bohlen reported from Moscow
several days ago the probable
elimination of Lavrenti P. Beria
as Russia's No. 2 leader and now
is hurrying to Washington to
consult with Secretary of State
Dulles, the State Department an
nounced today.
A spokesman said Mr.. Bohlen
is flying home to be able to con-
suit with MI. Dulles about de-
velopmentS in the Soviet while
the Big Three foreign ministers
conference is in session here. He
is expected to arrive tomorrow.
Mr.. Bohlen is flying to WASH
ington from Paris. He left Mos
COW three or four days ago, os-
tenSibly on vacation.
Ready to Move Quickly.
But he already had reported
to Washington the likely purge
OF Berla. longtime head of the
Soviet Secret Police who has
been regarded since Stains
death as sharing top Russian
command with Premier Malen-
kov and Foreign Minister Mol
tov.
Officials said Mr.. Bohlen's
ostensible vacation trip to. Paris
actually was made in order to
permit him to get to Washing
ton in a hurry when the Beria
elimination came about.
This gave him more elasticity
IN his travel schedule, it was said.
Officials refused to disclose any
details of Mr.. Bohlen's report
that Beria was on the way out,
which was said to have been
made about a week ago.
No Comment on Purge.
State Department Press OFF,
Ger Lincoln White announced
only that Ambassador Bohlen.
who foresaw and reported the
probable elimination of Beria
several days ago, is now return
Ing to the United States"
Mr.. White refused any COM
ment on the Beria purge. He said
Secretary Dulles would touch on
it briefly in an opening statement
at the Big Three foreign min
listers first conference this after
noon.
The talks between Mr.. Dulles
and the top foreign policy archi-
tects of Britain and France to
work out common course for
free-World leadership were given
q new sense of urgency by Beria's
custer.
In immediate Washington re-
action. experts were uncertain
whether the event foreshadows
any change in Soviet foreign
policy.
Most sources interpreted the
news as indicating that Malen-
kov is acting with ruthless de-
cision to consolidate his power
as Josef Stalin's successor. They
Speculated that Berias downfall
might bring a toughening of So
Wet policy toward the West and
further purging of high officials
In the Moscow government.
May Be ScapegOat.
There was some thought he
might be made the scapegoat
for policies which permitted the
recent uprisings against Com
munist rule in East Germany.
Others saw it merely as sign
Of internal Kremlin politics.
Despite this and a flood of
other world problems. Big Three
negotiators were approaching
their steady round of confer
ences in an atmosphere of out
ward geniality and self-confi-
dence.
This afternoon at 2::30 Britain's
acting Foreign Minister Lord
Salisbury and Frances Georges
Bidault will sit down with Secre-
tary of State Dulles for the
opening session of the conference
on the 11th floor of an ancient
State Department annex.
The present schedule, which
calls for winding up the confer
ence next Tuesday. points to a
hich-pressure gab-fest. The min
listers will hold regular morning
and evening sessions, except on
Sunday, when Lord Salisbury is
hoping to sneak away for visit
(See BIG THREE, Page A-120