Evening star., 1959-12-04
EISENHOWER
Ancient Rome Greets u. S. President
With Warm Cheers in Heavy Rain
Continued From First Page

the translation OF his remarks.
Outside the airport another
crowd cheered in the rain as
the two Presidents drove of
for the trip into Rome over
the 2,000-year-old Appian Way.
Despite the rain, small
crowds Of Italians under UNI
brellas lined Rome streets to
watch the President go by on
his way to the 400-year-old
Quirinal Palace, his residence
for his two-day stay in Rome.
The weather kept the numbers
Of the crowd down, but those
who did turn out cheered
Justify.
Some signs bobbed up along
the way. Said one: "The Peo-
pie Hope for an End to the
Cold War" and another:
Summit Immediately" These
had the ring of Communist
slogans. But the Communists
here profess to be happy about
the Eisenhower visit.
In the courtyard of Quirinal
Palace. the ceremonies we're
cut short due to the rain. Pres
ident Gronchi and President
Eisenhower hustled inside and
up the broad marble staircase
to the Eisenhower apartment.
Mr.. Eisenhower's first steps
in his seven-room apartment
were in the Salon of the Sea-
sons" given its name from its
chairs carved to represent each
month.
His daughter-in-law Barbara
was escorted to another apart
ment-one usually given to the
wives of chiefs of state.
Mr.. Eisenhower's son and
other top members of the party
were given lesser apartments.
Mr.. Eisenhower's apartment
and Barbara's look out on a
garden. The others, down a
narrow corridor two big city
blocks long, look out on a mar
row street.
Pauline Chapel Nearby
Nearby is the Pauline Chapel,
also the Guard Room and
the ''long sleeve" wing Of
apartments in which the presi-
Dental party is housed. They
were constructed for conclaves
at which cardinals elected
Popes. Four Popes were elected
at the Quirinal, the last Plus
N.
Ahead Of Mr.. Eisenhower
were 48 crowded hours in Rome
before he takes of Just before
noon Sunday for Ankara Tur-
key. Then, in whirlwind sue
cession will come visits to the
capitals of Pakistan, Afghanls-
tan, India, Iran, Greece.
Tunisia, France for the West
ern summit meeting in Pans,
Spain and Morocco. He re-
turns to Washington on the
night of December %.
The Presidents schedule
today included lunch with Mr..
Gronchi and a black-tie dinner
and reception given by the
Italian President for his guest.
Segni Luncheon Tomorrow
Tomorrow Mr.. Segni does
the luncheon honors and Mr..
Eisenhower entertains at a
dinner and reception at the
Villa Taverna, the residence of
the United States Ambassador.
On Sunday, for two hours
Just before his departure, Mt
Eisenhower will become "pri-
vate visitor" to pay a call on
Pope John XIII, the first
papal audience for an Amer
lean President since Pope Bene-
dict XIV received Woodrow
Wilson in 1919.
Five hours of Mr.. EiSenhow-
er's 48 in Rome were set aside
for talks with Mr.. Gronchi and
Mr.. Segni. But Italy's Chris
tian Democrat government is a
firm supporter of American
policies in the cold war and
there are no great political diff
ferenceS to discuss.
Much more important than
the private talks, it was be-
lieved in Rome, will be the
Presidents public appearances
and the fact of his visit as
q demonstration of United
States-Italian friendship.
For one thing, the Presi-
dents decision to make Italy
the first stop on his tour gave
Mr.. Segni something tangible
with which to answer the
charges of italian Communists
that the United States takes
this country's support for
granted, as it would a poor
relations.
Bigger Voice Desired
Many Italians feel their
country deserves a bigger voice
in the inner councils of the
Western alliance. The Com
munists, who are the nations
second biggest political party,
have played on this feeling in
arguing that Italy should be
neutral in the East West
struggle.
Mr.. Segni and Mr.. Gronchi
surely will tell Mr.. Eisenhower
again-as they have before
that Italy should be consulted
more frequently about over
all Western policy. But they
are not expected to press the
subject to the point of en-
barrassing their guest.
The atmosphere on the plane
flight was easy and relaxed,
with no business for the Presi-
dent on the first night. Mr..
Eisenhower chatted informally
with members of his party,
dined on steak. and went to
bed before 10 pm.
The plane made one refuel-
s4.... aG 70 =.