Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-03-22

opposed to top level conference
with the Soviet now because the
conditions he had laid down
had not been met, Senator
Knowland said II think that is
the gist of it,"
He added that Mr.. Eisenhower
recognized Senator Georges right
to have his own opinion. But
he stressed that the latter's
opinion lis not the present opin-
ion of the administration"
The administration is con-
stantly reviewing and discussing
the question of a Big -Four con-
ference as it does any other
problem, Senator Knowland said.
He added that the President is
prepared to receive additional
facts" about any changed con-
ditions that may exist in the
world"
The he emphasized again that
there is no change in the ad-
ministration position up to this
time"
Asked If his constant use of
the phrase "up to this time" in
dicated a possibility Of an early
administration decision to sup
port a Big Four conference pro-
posal, Senator Knowland said no
such implication should be read
into his remarks. He explained
that he meant no one knows
what conditions might be a year
or five years from now, but that
he certainly was not implying
the possibility of any change in
the Presidents position "tomor-
row or next week"
He added that at present the
administration simply sees no
evidence of Soviet performance
indicating good faith on the part
of Moscow leaders that would
warrant any change in the opin-
ion that a conference would not
be useful now. Senator Know
land spoke to reporters in the
presence of Mr.. Hagerty.
Inconsistency Denied
When reporters asked the press
secretary for an explanation of
his assertion that there was no
inconsistency between the views
of the administration and those
of Senator George, he told them
he thought they were getting
mixed up" by trying to put a
time limit or time period on these
things"
The implication seemed to be
that the White House does not
consider that Senator George is
urging that a Big Four confer
ence be held right away or under
present conditions.
Mr.. Hagerty pointed out that
Senator Georges original pro-
posal was for a conference with
the Russians after ratification
of the agreements for rearming
West Germany.
A State Department state
ment made no mention of con-
ditions which should be met by
Russia before any such confer
ence is held other than ratif1ca-
ton of the Paris accords.
Released after Secretary Dulles
conferred at the White House
with President Eisenhower. it
said:
THE suggestion made by Sem
ator George is in harmony with
the position which has been
taken by the Department of
State.
Secretary Dulles has several
times indicated that once the
Paris accords are ratified there
might then be useful confer
ences. He pointed out that the
Berlin meeting of last year
taught that until this essential
act of European unity is taken
the Soviets would use a confer
ence merely to maneuver against
European unity.
Naturally. the question of the
time, place, composition and
agenda Of any conference raises
many questions which have to
be considered with the other par
ties properly concerned.
LAS Secretary Dulles said in
his Chicago speech of last No
vember, our policies do not ex-
clude international conferences