davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-06-16
Alexis JohnsonIsthe Only Channel
Between Washington and Peiping

of mutual denunciation between
Washington and Peiping-but many
diplomats doubt whether so many
people might have been freed had
it not been for Mr.. Johnson's meet
ing with Mr.. Wang. Some Chinese
have gone to Red China from the
United States in this period.
In 1855, Mr.. johnson met Mr..
Wang as frequently as twice week.
In recent months the average has
been about once a month. It is
estimated the two men and their
advisers have sat face to face now
for more than l65 hours. not count
ing some conversations they had
at the 1854 Geneva conference.
Mr.. johnson meets Mr.. Wang in
an Office Of the United Nations
building at Geneva. The United
Nations charges about $3.50 in
Swiss francs for the use of the room
and a uniformed U. N. guard to
stand outside the door. Character
istic of the careful formality which
surrounds the talks. the United
States and Red China split this fee
each time.
Mr.. johnson makes round trip
Of 1000 miles. to get to Geneva.
Mr.. Wang's travel is 1000 miles per
meeting. for he is regularly sta
toned in Warsaw.
TroveI Tooether
Curiously. the two men sometimes
travel on the same plane.
Prague lies on a straight line
from Warsaw to Geneva. The prac-
tice Of meeting in Geneva. from
travel point of view. makes about
as much sense as though a man
living in st. Louis and man living
in Cincinnati made special trips to
meet in Philadelphia 80 or 40 times
year. But the point is that Geneva
is neutral territory.
American efforts to get the
Peiping government to renounce its
intention to use force with respect
to Formosa have failed because the
Reds contend FormoSa is Chinese
territory and the question is not
one for a foreign government.
Chinese efforts to get the United
States to arrange a meeting be-
tween Mr.. Chou En-lai and Mr..
Dulles also have failed, because the
United States rejects any SUCCESS
ton Of recognition so far of q
government still condemned for ag-
greSsion in Korea and still possessed
Of a reputation for mistreating
Americans.
Nevertheless. the talks go on and
Mr.. Johnson's problem is, first. to
keep them open, and second. to
avoid any kind Of commitment or
statement in his arguments with
Mr.. Wang which could be used by
the Red Chinese against the United
States. So far he has perfectly
balanced these requirements of his
assignment.
CThe Associated Press)
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-06-16

Treaty Organization marshal Tito
once called NATO a Sword of
Damocles hanging over humanity")
Belgrade nevertheless has shown
great interest in the present prog
ress toward a united Europe. An
official observer has represented
Yugoslavia in the Organization for
European Economic Cooperation
since 1855.
But the recently approved COM
mon market" program for Euro
pean economic indignation, plus
the European Atomic Energy
Agency, are, in Belgrade's view,
keyed to theological EXCLUSIVELY;
ie., they appear to bar participa-
ton by Marxist countries. Until
their base is broadened Yugoslavia
expects to press for closer ties
with Western European economies
through such programs as
"Yugoeleksport." a project for the
transmission Of Yugoslav hydro
electric power to Western European
industrial centers.
Yugoslav officials make no secret
OF the Importance Of continued
American aid to their nations
independence and economic sta
bility. They cite the critical situa-
ton in Yugoslav agriculture for
several years following the break
with Russia. United States surplus
wheat shipped to Yugoslavia in
these years kept the economy afioat.
they point out. while the govern
ment shifted its emphasis from
rapid industrialization to an agri-
cultural improvement program.
The hue and cry raised in Con-
gress not long ago when an official
invitation. to Marshal Tito for a
visit to the United States was
disclosed disappointed Yugoslavs
deeply. After all. said the news
paper Borba in Belgrade. had not
the Marshal also visited the Soviet
Union and did not that visit TO
Russia anger and annoy many in
the United States? Then why OPP
pose a friendly visit to the United
States. a trip which. presumably.
would annoy the Kremlin?
Yugoslavs still look forward to
a Tito visit TO Washington. But
they insist that the marshal must
be received as is any friendly head
Of state. with full honors and
protocol.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-06-16

quarrel with Marshal Tito after the
death Of Stain, the opposition to
any dealings with the Yugoslav
dictator has been sitter.
In last years Mutual Security
Act foreign add a proviso re-
quired that the President certify
to Congress that continued aid to
Yugoslavia was considered to be in
the best interests of the United
States. A similar provision is likely
in this years measure.
Yugoslavs. who invented the
word "coexistence" before 1t became
a slogan for Soviet salesmanship,
declare the American position is
anomalous. They point to Soviet
efforts. from l948 to 1854, to isolate
Yugoslavia from Eastern Europe.
Why, they ask. does the United
States then seem to condition
further aid to Belgrade on the ex-
tent Of the isolation and hostility
between Yugoslavia and the Soviet
Union and the Balkan Peoples
Republics?
In the Yugoslav view, complete
freedom from Moscow domination
has been demonstrated. The exist
ence Of Yugoslavia alone, Belgrade
declares. opens important new pros
poets for similar national Commu-
mist" movements elsewhere, as, for
example, in Poland.
The Yugoslavs also assert that
since the achievement Of an inde-
pendent role in world affairs. their
dictatorship has relaxed. Earlier
repressive measures against the old
owning class" the Serb offlcialdom
and both the Roman Catholic and
Greek Orthodox Churches, have
been eased. A profit and loss"
system Of accounting has been put
into effect in the state-owned in
dustries. Naturalization OF pro-
duction has been slowed down and
rationalized with an eye to increas-
ing the national product and thus
boosting the standard OF living
Collectivization OF agriculture has
been almost abandoned.
Her Foreign Policy
In foreign affairs. Yugoslavia has
entered into a defensive alliance
with Greece and Turkey and has
cultivated cordial relations with the
''neutralist" nations, Holding strict
" aloof from the North Atlantic
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-06-16
By JOHN M. HIGHTOwER

When Secretary of States Dulles
told Alexis johnson in late 1858
that he was to be named Ambassa-
dor to Czechoslovakia, Mr.. johnson
was immensely pleased.
He had been involved in Far
Eastern affairs for many years and
had just finished masterminding
the Korean truce negotiations. He
was happy to turn his attention to
Europe.
Mr.. johnson should have known
better. Once a diplomat becomes
an expert in some specialized field
he is almost certain to find himself
employed there in every emergency.
Today Mr.. Johnson is holding
down the strangest and one Of the
most delicate jobs in United States
diplomacy. He is keeping a foot in
the door between the United States
and Red China.
He has, in fact. been keeping
this contact open for % months
and the prospect is that he still
has long way to go. He has spent
so much time meeting with a Chi
nese Communist representative in
Geneva that he has been able to do
relatively little as Ambassador to
Prague. He is disappointed father,
being denied much opportunity to
see his family, and a frustrated
mountain climber who never gets
closer to Switzerland's peaks than
the window Of his plane or train.
Holding down extraordinary as
signments, in fact becoming in
volved in unusual situations, is not
particularly new to Mr.. johnson.
He has negotiated before with on
Gals Of government which for the
United States does not exist. He
has done time in a japanese intern
ment camp and matched wits with
the Chinese Communists for months
on end.
He was well qualified for his pres
ent special mission. and that. in
fact. was the reason he got it.
Things do not always happen that
way in the State Department, but
there were quiet cheers when Alex
johnson drew the Geneva assign
ment.
This project began in a manner
characteristic of more than a little
diplomatic manipulation in the last
few years in Washington.
Talked KoFeon Truce
During 1854 the United States
had participated reluctantly in an
Asian peace conference with the
Chinese Reds and other Communist
and friendly countries at Geneva
Mr.. johnson was the top American
staff expert and for a time acting
head of the United States delega-
ton at that conference. He was
selected for that task because in
the previous two years. as a Deputy
Assistant Secretary of State, he had
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-06-16
THE BRIDGE BETWEEN
YugosIovo, Red but Independent Poses Policy Problem

grins, Macedonians, Slovaks, Rus
sines. Albanians, Hungarians. Bull
gars, Romanians, Italians and
minorities Of other nationalities
and persuasions.
Most Of its people are SIavs,
whose basic kinship has been OBJ
scured over the years by differences
serious enough to provoke blood
shed. Three centuries of Turkish
rule have left an indelible Moslem
print upon the medieval towns and
the mountainous countryside In
large areas.
During World War II, Yugoslavia
was overrup by the Nazi panzers;
1t was conquered and occupied, but
never subdued. The national re-
sistance to the German occupiers
was. unfortunately, split into irrec-
oncilable factions: the Chetniks,
followers Of Gen. Draja Mihailovich.
and the Partisans, led by Josip
BroZ. better known as Tito"
When World War II ended, Tito,
with allied help. was the acknowl-
edged leader Of his shattered home
land. King Peter and his
government were in London;
Mihailovich had been accused as
collaboration with the Germans
Che was in due time executed by
the Tito regime on that CHARGE
and the Russian army had marched
into Yugoslavia as a "liberating"
force.
Followed the Pottern
For the first few years after the
end Of World War II, Tito behaved
in approved Communist fashion.
His secret police set pattern of
repression hardly exceeded in any
other Red-held country.
The old Serbian upper and mid
die classes were reduced to i'm
potence. II not executed or jailed.
they were cancelled out as risks to
the Communist state by drastic
economic repressions. Unfriendly
foreign newsmen we're escorted to
Belgrade's airport by burly. silent
men in black fedoras who had
called in the mornings smaller
hours.
But in l948. in an incredible
maneuver. Marshal Tito kicked
over the Moscow traces. He de-
clared his nation independent Of
any foreign domination. free TO
carve out It's own future along
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-06-16
BY FRED THEROUx

The Federal Republic Of Yugo-
slavia occupies today a unique
position in a divided world. 1t is
determinedly independent in its
relations with other nations, but it
is not a member of the neutral
list" bloc. Although Communist, it
is neither behind the iron curtain
nor identified with Russian COM
munism. 1t looks to the West for
economic and military aid, but 1t
is not pro-Western in the cold war.
It trades with the Soviet satellite
neighbors-Hungary. Romania and
Bulgaria, but 1t Is not pro-Soviet.
This series of paradoxes illus
trates Yugoslavia's strange position
in the East-West struggle and ex-
plains why this year there is again
q dispute in Congress over whether
the Yugoslavs are friends to be
fostered or enemies to be Stunned.
There are cogent arguments for
each position. Those who support
aid for Yugoslavia say that she
offers a vital object lesson to the
world: That national independence
is possible and desirable even
though the theological affinity Of
a nation may be to one bloc.
Opponents Of aid predict that
theology will prevail and that Com
munist Yugoslavia must, in any
showdown, join forces with the
Communist world against the West.
therefore. they say. our aid is
worse than useless-it amounts to
eventual aid to the enemy.
The Truman and the Eisenhower
administrations have both taken
the position that Yugoslav indepen-
dence from the Russian bloc should
be encouraged-the announcement
taking the practical form Of finan-
cial and military assistance. The
current mutual security bill now
before Congress includes a rela-
lively small amount-the exact
figures are classified" eco
nomic and military aid to Yugo-
slavia.
Melting Pot Nation
Yugoslavia is a composite nation
Of kindred peoples. Created after
World War ! a. the Kingdom of the
Serbs. Croats and Slovenes, the
nation today includes not only these
three peoples but also Montene-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-06-16
LEGAL AND POLITICAL VIEWS
I The Far-reaching Girard Case
Raises Knotty
Legal Issues
BY PHIL YEAGER and
John STARK

The controversy over Specialist
&c William Girard and whether he
should be tried by a Japanese court
on murder charges concerns much
more than the fate Of one soldier.
The Girard case dramatizes a sharp
conflict between traditional con-
cepts of American law and the
requirements Of American foreign
policy, raising politico-legal issues
which are Of growing importance as
the United States role in inter-
national affairs increases.
The procedure under which Spe-
cialist Girard has been turned over
to Japanese authorities for trial Is
set out in the Japanese adminiStra-
ton agreement of 1858, one Of the
so-called status Of forces agree
ments" the United States maintains
with 40 countries.
BY far the most important Of
these agreements are the ones con-
Guided on a multilateral basis with
the NATO countries in 1851, and
the 1858 Japanese agreement.
In general. the content Of these
agreements is similar. They spell
out a system Of concurrent juris-
diction over United States service
men and give to United States
authorities power to handle crimi-
nal offenses committed I'm the per-
Torrance Of official duty" and to
foreign authorities power to handle
those not committed in the per-
Torrance Of such duty. Either may
waive its jurisdiction upon request
of the other. In the event of trial
by q foreign court, United States
servicemen are promised certain
rights including an information Of
charges against them. legal counsel,
interpreters and a speedy trial.
Neither agreement specifies what
"acts or omissions" should be
deemed lin the performance Of Of
ficial duty" Nor does either con-
tain any definitive provision for de-
Gliding how and by whom this ques-
ton shall be settled. American
authorities seem to assume that the
decision primarily should be made
by the United States command on
the scene. but it is questionable II
foreign officials 60 along with this
view. In some cases, they clearly
do not. England requires that all
such decisions would be made by
the English courts.
The Japanese agreement gives
servicemen a substantive right to
communicate with United States
authorities when charged with a
crime and to have an American rep
resentative present at his foreign
trial. The NATO agreement auth
orizes such a representative when
the rules Of the foreign courts per-
NIT 1t.
In approving the NATO agree
ment. however. the Senate added q
reservation stipulating that a
United States observer should be
present at all foreign trials to see
that the procedural safeguards
agreed to are carried out.
There is no such stipulation
in the Japanese agreement. al
though it is the policy of the State
and Defense departments to follow
the same procedure.
Finally, the NATO agreement was
negotiated in the form Of a treaty,
while the japanese agreement was
concluded as an executive agree
ment.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-06-16

tions. During World War II, both
England and the United States in
sisted upon exclusive jurisdiction
Of all military personnel stationed
within the territorial limits Of the
other. But even in such cases as
these the extent Of immunity for
troops is considered a legal grant
from the state in which they are
stationed.
With the end Of the war such
grants of exclusive jurisdiction
were quickly withdrawn and all
countries reasserted their sovereign
peacetime right to try overseas
military personnel who committed
crimes on their soil.
1t was against this backdrop of
national sovereignty that the
United States negotiated the status
of forces agreements. which &C.
tually give our overseas military
commands more legal authority
than they traditionally could expect
under international law.
In summary, the United States
could not keep its troops abroad in
peacetime and at the same time
retain exclusive jurisdiction over
them unless it were willing Cd to
violate international law or % to
maintain an indefinite status as q
military conqueror.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-06-16

managed, from Washington, the
day-to-day negotiations with the
Chinese Communists at Panmun-
JON for an end to the Korean War.
Following the Asian conference
at Geneva there were meetings be-
tween American and Red Chinese
consuls there on obtaining release
Of American citizens from Chinese
prisons and on Red China's charge
that the United States was forcibly
holding Chinese students.
Some months after these tenta-
tive contacts developed, Peiping's
Premier Chou En-lai at the time Of
the Banding conference called for
higher level contacts between Red
China and the United States to
iron out lot of troubles, including
the Formosa dispute.
Acting Secretary Of State Her.
bert Hoover, jr., replied that the
United States wasn't interested.
But when Secretary Dulles soon
afterward returned to town from
one of his innumerable trips he
promptly reversed this decision,
saying: IF you can't fight them,
you can talk to them"
Mr.. Dulles ruled out discussions
with the Reds on problems primar-
lily Of concern to Chinese National
list Generalissimo Chang Kai-shek,
but made it clear he was prepared
to urge Peiping to help pacify' the
Formosa area by renouncing the
use of force there.
When Mr.. johnson was leaving
Washington in July. 1855. to start
his meetings with Ambassador
Wang Ping-nan at Geneva, he was
asked how long he thought he
would be engaged there. He said
he didn't know. A friend suggested
About two weeks?" Mr.. johnson
replied: mo. think it will be longer
than that"
Worned Of Siege
Actually Mr.. Dulles had told him
he might be in for a siege Of nego-
tiations like that over the Korean
armistice, which ran about two
years. Mr.. johnson held his first
meeting with Mr.. Wang on August
/, 1855. The day before they
grimly shook hands. the Peiping
regime announced the release of IL
United States airmen who had been
held prisoner in Red China from
the Korean conflict.
BY September 10 the talks also
produced an agreed announce
ment" by each country about letting
civilians of the other country go
home. The Reds were supposed to
release American citizens "expedi-
tiously."
When the talks started there were
more than 40 American civilians in
Red Chinese prisons or in house
arrest. Today there are fewer than
ten.
The process Of release has not
been without a considerable amount
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-06-16
International Issues

No principle Of international law
is more firmly established than the
rule that every foreign nation has
jurisdiction over all persons (diplo-
matte personnel excepted) within its
borders. regardless of why they are
there or who they are.
In wartime there may be excep-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-03-20
Coda Meir Brings
Blunt FOrthriqhtness
Continued From Page B.!

Continued From Page B.!
Communist Romania, who was
purged in 1852. And powerful
as Ana Pauker was in her So
viet-dictated country. she never
became an important figure at
international council tables,
where war or peace hung in
the balance.
Mrs. Meir was born Coda
("Goldie") MarbovitZ in Kiev,
Russia, in 1898, the daughter
of cabinetmaker who fled
Czarist Russia's pogroms when
Goldie was eight.
The parents. Goldie and an
older sister wound up in Mil
waukee, where they eaked out
a precarious existence, her
father as a railroad carpenter.
her mother by running small
grocery store. They lived in
two rooms behind the store.
School friends remember
Goldie as vivid beautiful red
head, studious and brilliant,
and always fighting for the
underdog." She taught sixth
grade for a time. then was
librarian in Chicago and New
York.
She became interested in
Zionism in her early teens,
agreed to marry Morris Myer-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-03-20

son, a new Zionist Jewish in
tellectual, only if he would go
to Palestine with her. They
went in 1923.
They faced incredible hard
ships on the long boat trip
over, and life was grim and
stark during the following
years. when they lived in a
kibbutz communal farm i,
raising chickens.
She still walks with the
heak tread she acquired dur
ing those early years on the
farm.
Studied At Night
At night, when her chickens
had gone to rooSt, she studied
Hebrew and Arabic and was
very active in community af-
fairs. Soon she had an ex-
ecutive job in Histadrut. the
Zionist labor movement.
That was the beginning of
the long climb to Cabinet
rank-a journey as difficult
for an Israeli woman as for
her American sister.
She has asked for no special
allowances as a woman-un-
less you count the time she
passed through British lines
with a Stem gun struggled in
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-03-20

her skirt folds. And the time
during the Arab-Israeli war,
when she disguised herself as
an Arab woman to get through
the lines for an interview with
King Abdullah of Jordan in
his palace.
She wanted to reach agree
ment with the king to end the
war. Her eloquence prevailed
with King Abdullah, but other
Arab leaders baked a few
days later, and he had to call
off the deal.