St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1956-12-14

Inc tNtTaoINHlaIg hi'iNNh
cnce at the State Department.
Participating In the meeting
were Herbert Hoover Jro then
acting secretary OF state; Robert
Murphy, deputy underseeretary of
state. Francis O. wilcox, assistent
secretary for international organi-
zation affairs, Robert Hin, assist
ant secretary for congressional
relations: and Sen. Hubert II.
Humphrey 90, Mimi
II was Humphrey. ranking
member OF the Senate Foreign Re-
lations Committees and delegate
70 the United Nations, who did the
desk pounding.
An UItimatum
In effect he threw down the
followings ultimatum:
Either the administration moves
quickly TO deal with Europe's in
creasingly disruptive oil shortage
or he would resign from the UN
delegation and make a public is
sue OF the failure TO act.
The militant Minnesotan then
told the state Department chiefs
he was talking not only for him
self. but for all the other Demo-
chatic members OF the Foreign
Relations Committee which they
presumably will control in the
new Congress. and whose bi-par-
tisan cooperation Is OF utmost
Importance 10 the administration.
The significant hint also was
dropped that Senate Republican
Leader william r. Knowland
(Calif), the other Foreign Rela-
lions Committee member on the
UN delegation, had strong mis-
giungs about the delay in ship
ping oil to North Atlantic Treaty
Organization allies There was no
indication OF the Californian going
az far as Humphrey threatened.
But II was made clear the two
senators were In agreement in
criticizing administration policy.
White House Reacts
Several days later, the White
House announced that oil supplies
to Europe would be increased by
800, 900 barrels a day.
In personal talks and by long
distance phone, Humphrey had as
certained that the other Demo-
cratic committee members saw eye
10 eye with him on the oil issue.
To the authoritative group at
the state Department meeting,
Humphrey put two questions;
When would an emergency oil-for-
Europe plan be put into action
and why was that being delayed7
Hoover explained the final de-
cision was up TO President Essen
hover and that there was no GER
tainty when he would make II. As
to the cause for the delay, there
were a number OF them, particu-
larry, lack Of definite word from
the British and French on when
they would get their forces out OF
Egypt.
It was at this point that Hum
phrey exploded and. TO Hoover's
astonishment, hammered his desk.
Hoover argued that "the neces-
sary machinery is all ready to be-
gin functioning as soon as we re-
ceive satisfactory assurances that |
the British and French viii with
draw from the suez area"
That position is suicidal" re-
torted Humphrey "such a policy !
can only cause new suffering and
help no one, except Egyptian
President Canal Abdell Nasser
and his Communist masters) I viii
have nothing TO do with a policy |
that Is certain 10 cause untold suf-
fering 10 millions Of our allies and
friends. I'll resign before stand
for IL. And 1 will appreciate II II
my views are conveyed Immediate
Iy and directly to Mr.. Dulles"
sec'y. Of State John Foster
Dullesj.
Hoover flushed at this. Il viii
relay wour views 10 Sec'y. Dulles,
he said. He plans to discuss this
matter with the President at Au-
gusta on Sunday"
Gets Assurance
on Thursday, the day before
the White Houses oil announce
ment, the Minnesotan phoned
Hoover. from the United Nations
in New York to ask III there Is
new on the oil matter"