Evening star., 1960-05-26
Continued Prom First PaEe

might ad, the Soviets.
II am hopeful those who. in
the heat of Developments. called
for this inquiry. win in the in
terest Of the country see that
1t does not proceed"
The President briefed the
congressional leaders on what
happened in Paris and events
leading up to the breakdown oi
the conference, and then Of.
fered to answer any questions
Senate Republican Leader
Dirksen Of Illinois said therI
we're very few questions aftel
Mr.. Eisenhower had made hi
statement.
Several Congressmen told re.
porters they did not hear any
thing that added materially II
the information that the Presi.
dent gave the country by radio
and television last night.
Senator Dirksen said there
was "a little clarification anC
fill-in" on last nights speech
But he expressed the belief tina
Mr.. Eisenhower had "prett!
much put everything on th'
record last night"
Supports Inquiry
Senate Democratic Leader
johnson of Texas confirmed
the fact that Mr.. Eisenhower
had offered his "wholeheartec
cooperation" in congressional
efforts to find out just what
happened regarding the Incl
dent of the U-2 spy plane ovel
Russia and what part it played
in the breakup of the summit
conference.
Senator johnson, referring
to the Investigations, said, 1--WE
are all in this together and we
are treating mistakes as errors
Our big objective is to bring
about American solidarity"
Other breakfast guests sec.
onded Senator Johnson's report
of a promise of cooperation
and the White House chimec
in later. Press Secretary
James c. Hagerty said:
THE President told the lead
ers that he personally welcomed
the bipartisan inquiry which
will start tomorrow.
I'm turn, the entire grouI
agreed that the inquiry shoulc
be conducted on a completely
nonpartisan and truly BIZ
partisan basis.
THE President said that ad'
ministration officials concerned
would cooperate fully, anc
added that, of course. he woulC
consider any recommendation
such an inquiry might make.
There was a frank and gen
eral discussion lasting over al
hour"
Mr.. Hagerty called it "one o
the best meetings 1 have eve
attended" Referring to tn,
Democrats and Republican
present, he added:
They were there as Ameri
cans and not as party mem
bers."
When the breakfast was over
Mr.. Eisenhower strolled out OF
the main portico of the Whit,
House and posed for a grouI
picture with the guests.
Poses With Democrats
AS he came through the door
he was flanked by Senator
johnson and Senator Russell
Of Georgia, with Speaker Ray,
burn following close behind. Al
the photographers snapped
their cameras. the PreSiden
thanked all of the leaders fol
coming.
In addition to the leaders o
both Houses, the group includ
ed the top ranking member
Of the House and Senate Com
mitteeS on Appropriations, For
eign Relations and Armet
Services.
Also on hand were Secretar,
of State Herter, Defense Sec
retary Gates and Undersecre
tary of State Livingston Mer
chant.
Probe Opens Tomorrow
Although several congres
sional groups are proceeding
separately to gather informa
tion about the U-2 plane Incl
dent, the main inquiry will b.
conducted by the Senate For
eign Relations Committee
starting tomorrow. with Sec
retary Herter as the first wit
ness.
Because of the security fac
tors involved, the committe,
will function behind closet
doors, but will make public +,
censored version of the testi
mony as quickly as possible.
Some congressional leaders
among them Senator Gore
Democrat of Tennessee, sal,
earlier the Presidents speecl
last night raises more ques
tions than it answers" Other
went along with the view O
Senator Mansfield, Democra
Of Montana. who called tn