davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1954-04-28
Veteran Preference
Bypassing Is Upheld

Federal Judge Edward A.
Tamm today ruled that Congress
may bypass the Veterans Pref
erence Act without outright re-
peal of the measure.
The judges ruling threw out
a suit by a former employe of the
Mutual Security Agency, now
the Foreign Operations Admin
istration.
Plaintiff in the case was John
D. Myers, SO, of Edgewater, Md.
He sought reinstatement on the
ground the administrator of the
agency had violated provisions
Of the Veterans Preference Act
in dismlssing him during a five
per cent reduction in force au-
thorized by Congress.
Mr.. Mayors attorney. Robert
B Lagather, argued that the
congressional law which put up
to the agency head the respon-
sibility for deciding who should
be fired violated the act.
This act. in essence. DEGREES
that veterans should be given
job preference as opposed to nom
veterans.
But Judge Tamm held that
Congress, having given certain
rights to veterans. "has the right
to take away privileges it has
granted"
Evening star., 1954-04-28
Wet Nam independence
Accord Signed in Paris
By the Associoted Press

PARIS, April ga joint
declaration designed to establish
the independence of Wet Nam
Immediately was signed today by
French Premier Joseph Laniel
and Wet Namese Deputy Premier
Nguyen Trung Vinh.
Their signatures were placed
on the document in a brief cere-
mony at the premier's Office here.
Negotiations for formal treaties
granting Wet Nam independence
and affirming her membership
in the French Union have been
under way in Paris since March
8. Legalistic problems in draft
ing them, however, have caused
delay and the joint declaration
was substituted as a means of
establishing the independence of
the largest of the French-spon-
sored Indo-ChineSe states.
Evening star., 1954-04-28
American Security
And Hamilton Bank
Consolidation Voted
Boards Act Pending
Ratification by U. S.
And Stockholders
By Donald B. HodIey

Plans for the consolidation of
American Security q Trust Co.
and hamilton National Bank
were announced today by their
presidents, Daniel w. Bell and
Wilmer j. Waller.
In a Joint statement, it was
disclosed that agreement to con-
solidate the banks under the
name of American Security g.
Trust Co, Ma, was approved
yesterday by the boards of di-
rectorS of both institutions.
Consolidation will become ef-
fective on ratification by the
stockholders of the two banks
and issuance by the controller of
the currency of a certificate of
consolidation.
Tentative approval of the pro-
posed consolidation already has
been expressed by the controller.
Upon consolidation, American
Security & Trust Co., N. A, will
have deposits in excess of $500
million and capital stock and
surplus in excess of SIG million.
So combined, it will have to-
tai of 18 banking Offices in the
District of Columbia.
Details Are Outlined.
Details were outlined by Mr..
Bell and Mr.. Waller as follows:
/. To effect the merger, Amer
ican Security will simultaneously
become national bank, thus the
addition of initials IN. A." (Na-
tional Association, to its present
name.
2. Capital stock of the con-
solidated bank will be $4,000
shares with a par value of $40
each. Each Hamilton share with
a par value OF $40 a share and
a book value of around 500
share will be exchanged for two
shares of American Security &
Trust Co., N. A., with a par
value of $40 each.
Each American Security share
with a par value of $40 and a
book value of around $37 a share
will be exchanged for one Amer
lean Security, N. A., share.
3. Arrangements have been
made whereby any American or
Hamilton stockholder may, upon
receipt of American Security,
N. A.. shares, sell them for SAL
a share.
4. In converting to a national
bank, American Security is max
(See MERGER. Page A-4.)
Evening star., 1954-04-28
79 Ministers Talk at Geneva,
But Big Decisions Are at Home
Serious Business Cannot Get Under Way
Until Word Comes From Other Places

mentS OF North and South Korea
should appoint a joint commits
sion which would include rep
resentatives of Democratic or
ganizations." The law would
guarantee q truly democratic
character" of elections and ex-
clude foreign interference" and
pressure from terrorist groups" ?"
The commission, which would
actually be q provisional gov
ernment, should undertake to
cultivate cultural relations be-
tween the two countries. Within
six months of an agreement by
the conference all foreign troops
should be withdrawn from the
peninsula.
Needless to say, this proposal
will be rejected by the Western
powers and South Korea. AS in
Germany, there can be no ques-
ton Of uniting the country ex-
cept on the basis of free and
open elections as the first step.
So tar as troop withdrawal is
concerned, there may be more
room tor bargaining. But the
probability is that neither the
Communists nor the Allies will
agree to withdraw their armies
unless a political settlement is
reached.
IndO- China Talks Discussed.
One other much more specu-
lative development outside the
actual conference can be noted.
In bis conversation with MIR.
Molotov yesterday. the French
foreign minister was agreeably
impressed by the attitude of the
Communists on the question OF
an Indo-Chinese conference. No
decisions were made, but Mr..
Bidault reported optimistically
that further talks may quickly
solve the problem of which lin
terested" countries should be in
vited to this phase of the con-
ference.
The American attitude toward
these talks is to keep hands off
and let the French carry the
ball. It is hoped, however, that
the number of countries will be
held to a minimum. If the con-
ference is opened up to include
India and Australia, there will
be a temptation in the American
camp to demand the presence
of Formosa and South Korea.
If. on the other hand the guest
list is restricted to the extent
Of leaving out Communist Wet
Minh-as France and her Indo-
Chinese allies would prefer-the
Americans would by very scepti-
cal about the possibility of any
settlement.
Measured against the sweep
ing speculation that provides the
common fare of reports from
Geneva, these accomplishments
may seem a bit pallid. On the
other hand. they go about as far
as can be expected at this point
while fateful decisions are still
to be made.
Evening star., 1954-04-28
Korean Who Fled in MIG
Arrives in u. 5. Friday
By the Associoted Press

No. Kum-Sok, 22-year-old
North Korean air force pilot
who escaped to South Korea
and freedom in his built
MIG last September, is coming
to the United States this week,
Attorney General Brownell an
nounced today.
The visit is made possible
under a special authority exer-
cised by the Attorney General
to grant entry permits. No will
arrive at San Francisco by plane
at 9:45 pm. (PDT) Friday, un-
der auspices of the State De-
partment.
The North Korean flyer re-
ceived 100000 for delivery of
the MIG. in accordance with an
offer previously made by the
United States Government, al
though he told United States
Air Force officers he had never
heard of the offer.
Since last fall, No has been
tutored at United States Air
Force stations in the Far East
learning English and becoming
familiar with Western ways. He
intends to attend a university
in this country to take scientific
training before returning to
South Korea to aid anti-Com-
munist activity there.
Evening star., 1954-04-28
williamsburg: Fake, Phony-but Charming?

from London mansions to be re-
fixed on the walls of Williams
burg.
"And the people of this fake
city spend their days in uncom-
Portable period costumes acting
the lives of their forebears for
the benefit Of the students, tour
lists and women's clubs who ar
rive in reverent droves.
Craftsmen handmade old
time boots and shoes which no.
body in their right senses would
wear. Others print on imitation
Caxton presses leaflets in olde
worlde type which nobody wants
to read . and bewigged musi-
clans play -. music which few
appreciate.
But don't get me wrong. g..
The final result Is charming"
Evening star., 1954-04-28

at private meeting with French
Foreign Minister Georges BIZ
dault. their second in as many
days at the Geneva conference.
Mr.. Bidault had asked that
the evacuation of hundreds and
hundreds" of wounded from Diem
Bien Phu be agreed before de-
Gliding on the nations which will
participate in talks here on
peace in Indo- China,
Wounded in Dugouts Now.
The wounded are under treat
ment in dugout shelters of the
Indo-C China fortress. Wet Mimi
guns block French planes from
landing there. The rebels have
denied a request from the gar
rison commander, Brig. Gen.
Christian de Castries, for a brief
truce to permit evacuation of
the wounded.
Mr.. Molotov's proposal was
announced at a Soviet news con-
ference by Leonid Ilychev. Rus
sian Foreign Office spokesman.
He said Mr.. Molotov, SYM
pathizing with the French view
that evacuation of the wounded
should be decided Immediately,
told Mr.. Bidault that "to facil-
itate a solution, the representa-
tives of interested sides should
meet. even in Geneva if neces-
sary."
Mr.. Ilychev did not say
whether Mr.. Bidault agreed.
France has been resisting Com
(See GENEVA, Page A-3.)
Evening star., 1954-04-28
Job Offer Brings
II Calls First Day

Mrs. 6. S. wos looking for copoble
woman TO do her general housework.
She thought Stor Classified might
help ond scheduled on inexpensive
three line od to run three Days. She
got quick oction.
We'll never underestimate The
Stor oeoin." she soys. I'VE received
II phone coils the very first doy the
od appeared" The remoinine two
ads were cancelled.
II you won't TO buy, trode, rent,
hire or sell, tell the long established
audience Of Stor readers obout it
and get quick oetion. Just phone
Sterling 5000 and osk for on od-
tqEer.
Evening star., 1954-04-28
McC orthy Found Nothing New
At Monmouth, Stevens Says
Senator Made No Discoveries There
Not Known to Army, Probers Told

Army Secretary Stevens told
the Senate Investigations sub
committee today that Senator
McCarthy's investigation of Fort
Monmouth produced <.'no signif1-
cant item of derogatory infor-
nation which was not known to,
and being acted upon by, the
Army"
Reviewing the Army's efforts
to tighten security at the secret
radar laboratory, Mr.. Stevens
made these points:
l.. Since August 10, six days
after Senator Mccarthy says he
opened his investigation at Mon
mouth, the Army has suspended
35 Monmouth employees.
2. All but two of these were
suspended before November,
when Senator McCarthy's inves-
tigation shifted into high scar.
3. OF those suspended. one has
been restored to duty with full
security clearance.
4. Nine have been restored to
non-sensitive work, pending fur
ther investigation.
5. Three have resigned.
6. Twenty-Five are still under
suspension.
Of the % still under SuSpen-
sion, Mr.. Stevens said, 16 have
been heard by the 1st Army Sc
curity Hearing Board and their
cases have been forwarded to the
Secretary for final disposition.
Six to Be Heard.
The remaining six of the %,
he said, are still to be heard,
but he said it is anticipated that
the 1st Army hearing board will
dispose of them this month"
"An analysis of the charges
issued to the employees still under
suspension" the secretary said.
disclosed that in each case more
than one item of derogatory in
formation was reported. The al
legations made against the %
individuals range in severity from
reported, although unSubstan-
tiated, past membership in the
Communist Party Zone of those
two cases involved activity oc-
curing in 1933-34) to violation
of security regulations and to
Evening star., 1954-04-28

We'd Britain'S castles and his
torical centers such as STRAIT
ford-on-Avon and added:
$50. realizing that this land
of the almighty dollar is a bit
short on hlsCor cal sights. Rookie
feller millions were poured into
creating "a p.lony all-American
sort of Stratford here in Will
liamsburg."
Mr.. Champion told Mirror
readers the Americans recon
structed culture with bulldozers
and steam Shovels" and agents
with well-stuffed purses secured
Britain for antiques.
"HeirloomS from manors and
Mayfair. tapestries from hard
up peers plus irreplaceable ma
tional treasures were shipped
over from our country" he wrote.
Even wallpapers were stripped
Evening star., 1954-04-28
By Crosby S. Noyes
Foreign Correspondent Of The Star


GENEVA, April 28.-It's Curl
Gus, but with all the attention
that is being focused on this city
there is a feeling here now of
being left out of things.
Even the presence of nineteen
foreign ministers doesn't change
the fact that at this point the
big decisions are being made
elsewhere Until word comes in
from Washington. London, Paris,
and Dien Bien Phu, the serious
business that confronts this con-
ference cannot really get under
way.
The presence of the ministers
themselves seems almost Incl
dental and even. perhaps, un-
fortunate. These gentlemen are
in Geneva for the avowed pur-
pose OF negotiating with one an
other on Asian problems. II the
hope of negotiation fails. their
job is to win a propaganda vic
tory. But today it is possible that
the time has passed when nego-
tiation and propaganda can set
tie the problems of Asia. The
West is certainly considering the
alternative of war. It is also cal
culating the consequences of de-
feat or surrender. Until these
questions are answered, it is per-
hapS unrealistic to expect that
much can be accomplished in
conversations with the enemy.
Facts Relatively Trivial.
The atmosphere also tends to
distort much that is happening
here. There is a natural inclina-
ton to read a cosmic Importance
into relatively trivial facts that
the Geneva conference has pro-
duced so far.
Thus when French Foreign
Minister Bidault pays call on
Russian Foreign Minister Molo-
tov for the purpose of sounding
out the Communist view on an
invitation list for the conference
on Indo-C China, few are willing
to accept such a limited version
of their conversation. It's much
more exciting to believe that a
French surrender or a Commu-
mist offer for immediate cease
fire is in the works. Of if Mr..
Molotov makes an unsmiling exit
from the American headquarters,
it is likely to be read as sign
of United States ultimatum.
Geneva is no place for the
gullible and unwary. The most
far-fetched and malicious rumors
find plenty of takers. Already
several journalists here have per-
formed the disagreeable task OF
eating their own headlines.
Reds Korean Plan Revealed.
When it comes to the question
Of facts, the conference itself
has produced exactly one SUBJ
stantial piece of news so far. At
yesterdays session, the Com
munists, speaking through Nam
II, revealed their plan for a set
tlement in Korea which would
assure eventual communication
of the country.
In its essentials, it is the same
as the plan which Mr.. Molotov
advanced in Berlin for unifica-
ton of Germany. The govern
Evening star., 1954-04-28

activities of the employees rela-
tiveS."
OF the IS individuals involved,
Mr.. Stevens related, Is were in
terrogated by the Mccarthy sub
committee. The suspensions of
these Is, Mr.. Stevens testified,
occurred in the following Or
der:
One on August 19, 1858: four
on September 20 Can additional
employe not called by the COM
mittee was also suspended on
September 29); 10 in October
and one in February. 1854.
Already Had Information.
with respect to the 19 en-
ployes who were suspended dur
ing the month of October" the
Secretary said, "the Army al
ready had derogatory informa-
ton in every case sufficient to
be the basis@ for suspension.
These cases, ,in common with
many others, were in the process
of re-examination as required
by President Eisenhower's ex-
ecutive order 10450 of April q,
1858.
Insofar as the results of the
committee interrogations of these
10 individuals have been made
available to the Army, no sig
nif1cant item of derogatory in
formation was developed by the
committee which was not already
know to. and being acted upon
by, the Army"
Mccarthy Interruption.
Senator Mccarthy tried to
interrupt Secretary Stevens while
he was reading his statement
about the Fort Monmouth sus-
pensions, but Chairman Mundt
held off the Senator.
VAiCIl Ml OtCNCllo 1llllo1lCu
Senator Mccarthy wanted to
know whether his statement
covered suspensions in the radar
laboratories at Fort Monmouth.
Mr.. Jenkins insisted this was
a matter for Senator Mccarthy
to take up during his time for
cross-examination.
"Just a minute" protested
Senator Mccarthy. Just a min
utet. I just want to ask what he
said"
You have a copy of the state
ment." Mr.. Stevens said.
Senator Mccarthy: Just an
swer me. Bob"
Secretary Stevens again re-
minded Senator Mccarthy that
he had a copy of the statement
before him. Senator Mccarthy
then subsidized. promising to take
up the matter in cross-examina-
ton.
Evening star., 1954-04-28
BY the Asseeiatso Press

LONDON, April 28.-The tab
loid Daily Mirror today de-
scribed Williamsburg, Va, as
fake city" built in envy of Brit
aims historical glories.
The description of Virginia's
former capital was contained in
a dispatch by the Mirrors
American correspondent, Ralph
Champion. The paper. with the
largest circulation in Britain,
frequently takes a jaundiced
view of things American.
Mr.. Champion opened with
this back-handed compliment:
You have to hand it to the
Yanks. What they haven't got
they will make-and to hell
with the expense"
He wrote that America en-
Evening star., 1954-04-28
Applications to FHA
For Housing Loans
Boom Despite Probe

Despite scandals rocking
the Federal Housing Admin
istration's loan insurance
programs. the agency last
week received the biggest
number of mortgage insur-
ance applications in nearly
a year.
The weeks applications
covered 1886 dwelling
units, involving about $120
million in loans, officials
said. This was the highest
volume since May is, 1853,
when 1922 applications
poured in.
Evening star., 1954-04-28
.Ex-FHA Official
DoubtsAbuses
Cost Millions
SCOTS at Charge
Dealers FIeeced
U. S. Homeowners
By jones Y. Newton

A former top official in the
Federal Housing Administration
today took strong exception to
evidence produced by the JUS
tice Department that hundreds
of thousands of homeowners"
had been f1eeced by operation of
unscrupulous dealers under
FHA-insured loans for repairs
and modernization.
Walter L. Greene, who retired
as deputy commissioner of FHA
two weeks ago, told the Senate
Banking Committee that it was
beyond my comprehension"
that there had been anything
like the number of abuses of the
housing program that Justice
had indicated to the committee.
Warren Olney III, in charge
of Justices Criminal Division.
described the widespread abuses
to the committee last week.
II just don't see how all Of the
abuses described by Mr.. Olney
could have gone on without our
knowledge" Mr.. Greene told the
committee as it resumed hear
ing of the housing scandal after
a five day lapse.
Comedies Irregularities.
Mr.. Greene did concede that
there had been too many ir-
regularities in connection with
FHA's Title One Program,
which insures loans up to $2,500
for home improvement. He sug-
gested the following as remedies:
/. That the list of improve
ments that can be made under
the program be confined more
strictly to repairs and structural
Observation-Disclosures such
things as fire and burglar alarm
systems, dog kennels, etc.
2. Amend the housing law so
that lending institutions would
be responsible for part of the
loss in cases where loans are III
defaults.
3. Provide FHA with more
funds so that it could better
police it's entire program.
The Banking Committee in
quiry resumed after a rival
housing investigator named a
resigned housing official as the
man whose repeatedly large
gambling losses first attracted
the attention Of the Federal Bu-
reau of Investigation.
Byrd Cites Ex-FHA Aide.
Senator Byrd. Democrat, OF
Virginia, who has been conduct
ing another investigation of the
housing situation, named Clyde
Powell, former assistant COM
missioner of FILA, as the official
mentioned in the inquiry as
having lost heavily in gambling.
Mr.. Greene said that although
FHA had insured billions of
housing loans, its operations
were so sound" that IF a de-
preston started tomorrow morn
ing the Government would not
have to put up a single dollar
to cover defaulted loans for 10
years
He made the remark in reply
to the earlier charge of an Off
cial of the Controller Generals
Office that the Government, in
case of a depression. possibly
would hold the bag for billions"
IN defaulted loans on large apart
ment projects.
Cites Huge Surplus.
Mr.. Greene said FILA has $3.50
million of earned surplus, most
of which is invested in Govern
ment bonds. In addition he
pointed out the Treasury receives
(See HOUSING. Page A-3.)
Evening star., 1954-04-28

TEHERAN. April % (P.-
Premier Fazollah zahedi received
a virtually unanimous confidence
vote yesterday from the Mails
(the lower house of Parliament).
One hundred and seven deputies
backed the Premier. No opposi-
ton vote was recorded, but two
members abstained and eight
were absent.
Evening star., 1954-04-28
Legation to Reopen

BELGRADE. April % (P.-
Yugoslav diplomats have left
Belgrade for Tirana, Albania. to
reopen a legation in the Alban-
ian capital. 1t was closed after
Yugolavia broke with the Comm
form in 1948.
Evening star., 1954-04-28


special counsel of the subcom-
mittee, had committed "griev-
Gus error" in asking the ques-
tiOnS.
With Secretary of the Army
Stevens in the witness chair
again for the fifth day of the
hearing, Mr.. jenkins inquired If
Pvt. Schine had received treat
ment not accorded other soldiers.
AS an audience, which again
packed the Senate caucus. room,
Uttered and at times burst into
outright laughter, Mr.. Jenkins
ran over a list of some of the
things Pvt. Schine is alleged to
have done and not to have done.
Among them were failure to
wear the regulation uniform,
hiring other soldiers to clean his
rifle, failing to clean his quar-
ters and seeking to fraternize
with his company commander
and other officers.
Roar of Laughter.
One of Mr.. Jenkins questions
which brought a roar of laugh
tsr from the audience was
whether Pvt. Schine had thrown
his arm over the shoulder OF a
Lieut.. Miller, the company COM
mander, and told him that he
was there ito modernize the
American Army and Streamllne 1t
along modern lines"
When the laughter had sub
sided enough for him to be heard,
Mr.. Stevens replied:
IT heard something along
those lines but not in the all
embracing way you said"
Senator Potter. Republican, OF
Michigan, a subcommittee men,
ber who lost both legs in World
War II, got in a brief observa-
tion that the Army must have
changed in the last 10 years.
Then Senator Mccarthy, sit
ting at the end of the long COM
mittee table, started interposing
objections.
The Senator said the Army
inspector general had investi-
gated the charges of alleged
favorable treatment for Pvt.
Schine and had made report.
He suggested the report should
be placed in the record.
Mr.. Jenkins, the tall, rugged,
East Tennessee trial lawyer.
Suavely turned aside the Nc
Carthy interruption and said
his statements would be an ap-
propriate question to put to Sec
retary Stevens on his own time.
Cleaned From Report.
As Senator Mccarthy objected
further. Mr.. Jenkins said it was
from the Inspector Generals re-
port that Il cleaned the facts
upon which I am basing my
examination"
Resnming his Interrogation of
Mi. Stevens. Mr.. Jenkins brought
out that during Pvt. Schine's
basic training at Fort Dix, the
weather was bad. He asked the
Secretary:
did you know that when SOL
diers were transported from one
camp area to another, or to
bivouac, Pvt. Schine almost in
variably rode in the cab of the
truck D.. and that 40 or so other
soldiers were packed like cattle
Evening star., 1954-04-28
Fight for Freedom,
OF Press Gaining

STATES TAKE ACTIoN-A survey
Of recent steps shows considerable
progress hos meen mode throughout
the Nation in the fight for freedom
Of the press. For q summary Of
victories and defeats turn to pooe
As.
Evening star., 1954-04-28
Hirohito s. Tomorrow

TOKYO. April % (R.-Em-.
peror Hirohito celebrates his SD
birthday tomorrow. Crowds will
gather at the Imperial Palace to
cheer the Emperor, who will ap-
pear on q specially built balceny.