THE MICHIGAN DAILY
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 8, 1951
Icy Paris Parley
SPRING IN, Paris is supposedly a mellow
season-one that melts anything cold.
But even Paris' spring charm has been un-
able to warm up the wall of ice that exists
between the East and West. One of the
coolest aspects of the cold war is taking
place at the Deputy Foreign Ministers con-
ference. It is also one of the most discour-
aging.
To the few who felt that a meeting of
representatives of the Big Four might end
the stalemate between the Western Pow-
ers and Russia, the present conference is
a great disappointment.
The whole problem is an old one. We
want to talk about Europe in general, Rus-
sia wants to talk about Germany in particu-
lar. So far neither side has given way, and
there doesn't seem to be much ground in
which to maneuver.
Our plan of studying the whole problem-
including Germany-perhaps seems a com-
promise itself. This should give the Rus-
sians plenty of space to build up an attack
against the Allied position. But Russia
wants to pin-point her discussion by mak-
ing German disarmament the central issue.
If Russia's agenda is accepted she stands
to gain greatly. By urging that there be no
rearmament of Germany-Russia may split
the Western bloc. France has been particu-
larly doubtful about the outcome of re-
militarization of Germany.
Further, by demanding that occupation
forces be withdrawn from Germany, and
that the country be unified, the Russians
would have another strong talking point.
German pressure itself for reunification
might be stirred up greatly.
Previously Germany seemed to be the key
to peace between East and West. Now, how-
ever, it is evident that it has become but a
political chessman for the great powers.
Ending our occupation of Germany as Rus-
sia desires would give the Communists great-
er access to West Germany's industry, and
perhaps eventual political control of the
whole country. But continued occupation
and separation means that Germany will
remain a festering sore spot in Europe.
What the long-run outcome of the Ger-
man problem will be is a question mark.
It probably won't be answered by the pro-
posed conference of Foreign Ministers or
even a meeting of Stalin and Truman.
Whichever agenda the present Paris con-
ference adopts, the meeting is but another
dismal display of the old story of non-coop-
eration on both sides.
-Vernon Emerson
Hiss Verdict
ALGER HISS is now in prison, serving five
years for lying when he stated that he
never gave government secrets to a Com-
munist spy ring. Undoubtedly the outcome
of this case will vindicate the actions of the
House Un-American Activities Committee.
Hiss was a completely trusted top offi-
cial of the United States government. He
was confidential advisor to the late Presi-
dent Roosevelt at the Yalta conference.
Hiss held the highly responsible position
of Secretary-General of the United Na-
tions charter conference at San Francisco
in 1945.
When Hiss was first charged by the Com-
mittee, President Truman called the investi-
gation a "red herring." Later, Secretary of
State Acheson said that he would "not turn
his back" on Hiss. Supreme Court Justices
Reed and Frankfurter were character wit-
nesses at this man's first trial. But, in the
end, the Supreme Court refused to review
the decision of the federal court.
Today, all the condemnation of the Un-
American Activities Committee for "head-
line hunting," "character assassination,"
and "guilt by association" seems unimpor-
tant. These phrases could themselves be
called "smear." They only attempt to cover
Alger Hiss' treasonous acts and hamper use-
ful committee investigations.
Regardless of its motives, the Committee
has performed a valuable service for the
American people. In its quest, whether for
truth or headlines, it found Alger Hiss had
been a dangerous weak link in our security.
But more important, the Committee has
dramatized to the American people the con-
stant danger of Communist infiltration into
the very core of our government.
Alger Hiss' lonely cell marks the end of
the most shocking trial of a man in high
public office in modern American history.
But the political implications of this case
will continue to be felt in years to come.
In the future Americans will probably not
view the actions of the Un-American Activi-
ties Committee as a witch hunt. They will
think of the members of the Committee as
neither heroes nor villians. In future years
only Alger His4 will be remembered, a bril-
liant man who betrayed the trust of both
his closest friends and his fellow Americans.
-Bruce Cohan
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etteP4 TO THE EDITOR
The Daily welcomes communications from its readers on matters of
general interest, and will publish all letters which are signed by the writex
and in good taste. Letters exceeding 300 words in length, defari.ate y w
libelous letters, and letters which for any reason are not in good taste wil
be condensed, edited or withheld from publication at the discretion of
editors. h
DORIS FLEESON:
American Ministers Meeting
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WASHINGTON - From amid his sea of
troubles President Truman can look
this week into at least one direction which
sustains his hope to be recognized by his-
tory as a statesman of peace.
The President personally is welcoming
the unprecedented conference of 20 foreign
ministers of Latin America who are going
to diiscuss here how to stay good neigh-
bors in the tense world situation before
crises arise instead of afterward. The
ministers will speak for 300,000,000 people
and a host of strategic materials vitally
necessary for the preparedness programs
going forward here and in Europe.
Mr. Truman has visited several of their
countries and had happy times there. He has
not made the kind of impression that would
diminish his personal stature. In inviting
the conference here, the administration has
moved in the direction of giving Latin Am-
erica equal stature with our North Atlantic
partners, which is good for their pride.
Speaking generally, the principal Latin-
American grievance against the United
States is that, while billions were poured in-
to UNRRA and then into Marshall Plan
aid for Europe and the Far East, there was
no Marshall Plan for them. The major U.S.
complaint against Latin America as a whole
is that none of them have sent troops to the
Korean war for which they voted in the
United Nations.
The biggest specific cloud from the Ameri-
can point of view is Argentine President Pe-
ron's suppression of the great newspaper, La
Prensa, with violence and bloodshed. Ed-
ward G. Miller, Jr., assistant Secretary of
State for inter-American affairs, has said
plainly this makes U.S.-Argentine relations
difficult.
The Argentine's young foreign minister,
Hipolito Jesus Paz, has already told a press
conference in effect that it was none of our
business. The press here naturally does not
accept that view and found Mr. Paz hard to
take in a manner too reminiscent of the late
Mr. Hitler's spokesmen here.
Editorials published in The Michigan Daily
are written by members of 'The Daily staff
and represent the views of the writers only.
NIGHT EDITOR: CHUCK ELLIOTT
[ MUSIC
ONCE MORE I bear my battered chalice
through a throng of foes.'
Last evening the Stanley Quartet pre-
sented the second, and unfortunately the
last,. in a series of recitals devoted to the
chamber music of Schubert. And devotion,
skill, and love made the performances of
Schubert's Quartet in A Minor, the Quartet
Movement irC Minor, and the Trout Quintet
three of the most memorable musical events
of the season.
Several wonderful details stood out in the
performance of the A Minor Quartet: the
fine restraint with which the theme of the
first movement was played; the realizing of
the expressive importance of inner parts;
and the way a careful balance was main-
tained between the lyrical and dramatic
parts of the work This last quality also
informed the playing of the Quartet Move-
ment in C Minor, a work which alternates
passages of crchestal strength with passages
of lyric gentleness. Here, as in the A Minor
Quartet, the contrasts were handled with
mperlative contrpl.
I am convinced that this control, both
of dramatic effects and of phrasing, is
one of the great problems in the playing
of Schubert. One could feel in the way
Mr. Ross played the opening melody of
The State Department's present plans
are to let the press and other private
channels take care of these matters in
their own way, figuring they will man-
age to impress upon the conference what
Americans really think about them. Since
nothing can come up for conference dis-
cussion without unanimous consent, La
Prensa could not be directly handled there
anyway.
There is plenty of other work to be done:
economic cooperation, which is more diffi-
cult because of inflation here; military aid
both for hemispheric defense and in Korea,
and internal security against Communism.
The administration is frankly a little fear-
ful that Peron's Argentina may prove diffi-
cult; it is optimistic about the others.
(Copyright, 1951, by the Bell Syndicate, Inc.)
ON THE
Washington Merry-Go-Round
with DREW PEARSON
-RAILROAD STRIKE IMPASSE-
ONLY ONE issue has been holding up settlement of the long, bitter
railroad strike-namely, the role of Presidential assistant John
Steelman as mediator. The railroads want the likeable ex-Alabama
college professor to arbitrate future differences, but the Railroad
Brotherhoods want someone else.
One reason that labor won't accept Steelman is a secret memo
that was intercepted from S. H. Pulliam to B. B. Bryant, who are
handling the strike negotiations for the Chesapeake and Ohio Rail-
road. This secret memo declares: "The rules will be Steelman's in-
terpretations which are pretty much the same as the railroads'."
(NOTE-Steelman, a former labor mediator, used to be popular
with labor before he entered the White House. Now he has a slight
grandeur complex, hankers to be head of the New York Stock Ex-
change.
.* * *.
M ATTE ae
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FACT7
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By STEWART ALSOP
A
MAN HUNT
WASHINGTON-The story of the last
days of Vlado Clementis, former For-
eign Minister of Czechoslovakia, before he
was arrested as a traitor can now be told.
It is a revealing story, for it demonstrates
dramatically the extent to which hidden
terror and the fear of sudden betrayal now
pervade the whole Soviet empire.
Clementis has been a fanatical Com-
munist all his life. Yet in the course of his
Communist career he made one mistake
which has now proved his undoing. For a
few months he was a "premature anti-
fascist," making anti-Nazi broadcasts from
London to his own country, while Hitler
and Stalin were still formally allied. This
was deviationism, and the Kremlin never
forgets.
Late in 1949, while Clementis was in this
country representing his government at the
United Nations, reliable reports that the
Kremlin had demanded the liquidation of
Clementis were published in this space. Cle-
mentis denounced these reports as lies, and
was photographed arm in arm with a smil-
ing Andrei Vishinsky. Clementis was in fact
wholly aware that he was in danger. But
Czech President Klement Gottwald, a close
personal friend of long standing, had sent
his wife to New York with assurances that if
Clementis returned he would be spared.
Trusting his friend's word, Clementis made
the fateful decision to go back.
He was soon dismissed as Foreign Min-
ister, which he must have expected. But
he was not arrested. He was installed in-
stead in a minor job as economic adviser
in the state bank. Yet as the Kremlin,
acting through such trusted agents as par-
ty secretary Rudolf Slansky, tightened its
grip on Czechoslovakia, the protection of
Gottwald became increasingly worthless.
The Kremlin is never satisfied with half
measures, and early this year word came
to Clementis thatrhe had been marked for
the slaughter. He could save himself only
by escaping.
He and his brother-in-law, Dr. Daniel
Okali, Slovak Minister of the Interior and
also a lifelong Communist, hatched a plan.
Ostensibly to discuss the export of wood pulp
with Okali, Clementis would fly to Bratis-
lava, the Slovak capital. Okali had a govern-
ment plane at his disposal, and in this the
two men would escape to Western Germany,
with Tito's Belgrade their ultimate objective.
AT THE LAST moment, Clementis became
aware that he was being watched. He
changed his plan, evading the secret police
and taking a slow train for Bratislava, in-
stead of the plane. The train stopped over
drawn too tight, and to cross the border
without help proved impossible. Evident-
ly, Clementis decided to play a last des-
perate card. The local Communist leader
in the smaller town of Znaim, near the
border, was an old comrade in arms from
the pre-war days. Perhaps he might help.
He reached Znaim undetected, and saw
his friend in his office in the morning. His
friend stood by him, and told him to re-
turn at 5:00 o'clock that afternoon, when
arrangements for his escape into East Aus-
tria would be complete. Clementis passed
the intervening hours at a motion picture,
and returned promptly at 5:00 o'clock.
* * *
THIS WAS THE end of the trail. His Com-
munist friend had been watched and
had already been arrested. In his office,
Clementis found the secret police waiting
for him. President Gottwald, all real power
now stripped from him, promptly denounced
Clementis, to whom he had been closer than
any other man, as a traitor and a spy, in
order to save his own skin. Thus the end
came for Vlado Clementis, who is dead now
or as good as dead.
This story, which is certainly accurate
in outline, of the last days of the former
Czech Foreign Minister, is worth pon-
dering, especially now when it so often
seems that moral decay has overtaken the
American republic. The American system
may produce its Costellos, but at least it
produces no spectacle comparable to that
of a man who had been Foreign Minister
only a few months before zigzagging
frantically, like a rabbit pursued by
hounds, in a desperate effort to escape
his country.
Surely the endless bloody ferreting out of
old Communist after old Communist which
has been going on for so many years now
argues a terrible weakness in the power
structure of the Communist world. Surely
the fear which Clementis must have felt as
his pursuers closed in on him must be felt
also, and always, by his pursuers, whose
turn is so likely to come next.
(Copyright, 1951, New York Herald Tribune Inc.)
A
4f. -FORRESTAL'S DIARY-
THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT has recently been urged to release
the private diary of the late Secretary of Defense, James Forrest-
al, and to that end an edited version was sent to the Joint Chiefs of
Staff for approval. However, they dropped it like a hot potato.
Some of the hot spots that caused the joint chiefs to keep the
diary suppressed are:
Forrestal told how he came close to firing then Secretary of the
Air Force Symington in the spring of 1948 for an unauthorized, pro-
air force speech on the West coast.
Forrestal also complained of his troubles getting the three serv-
ices to agree on war strategy and a defense budget. Twice he ap-
pealed to General Marshall to support increases in the military bud-
get. The first time, Marshall was Secretary of State and favored
priorities for foreign aid instead. The second time Marshall urged
that the extra money be spent for Universal Military Training.
Forrestal also wrote bitterly of his distrust of the French and
British. The diary has now gone back to the custody of the President's
naval aide, Rear Adm. Robert L. Dennison.
*,'* * *
-SLOW ARMS SHIPMENTS-
BRITAIN'S NEW Foreign Minister Herbert Morrison has complained
to the American Embassy that U.S. arms shipments are slow in
arriving in Britain.
Morrison told Ambassador Walter Gifford, former head of Am-
erican Telephone and Telegraph, that shipments are so far behind
schedule that it is jeopardizing British plans to expand its army.
Morrison also apologized that - his first official contact since
taking over as foreign minister had to do with a complaint. But he
emphasized that American arms are a matter of extreme urgency for
Britain if the West is to plan a successful defense against Communism.
* * * *
-WHERRY IS WILLING-
GENIAL SENATOR WHERRY of Nebraska secretly tried to launch
a Wherry-for-President boom the other day. But it has boomer-
anged.
Wherry arranged to send a form letter to GOP national com-
mitteemen recommending himself "as the party's Presidential candi-
date." The letter went out under the signature of Republican state
chairman David Martin of Kearney, Nebraska-supposedly without
Wherry's knowledge, but actually upon Wherry's orders.
The letter also included a copy of a speech, plugging Wherry,
which was delivered at the Nebraska GOP convention by delegate
George Tunison. What the letter neglected to mention, however, is
that Tunison is Wherry's campaign manager. The great Presidential
boom now seems to have fizzled and the Senator from Nebraska has
gone back to his job of herding the GOP flock on the Senate floor,
which he does well.
* * * *
-INSIDE THE KOREAN WAR-
H ERE'S A BRIEF round-up on recent unpublished facts in the Kor-
ean war: we expected to cut off 60,000 enemy troops by dropping
paratroopers behind the lines, but significantly the paratroopers ran
into little opposition .. . Until last week, very few Communist Chinese
had been spotted crossing the Yalu River into Korea. However, last
week, large Chinese troop movements were observed crossing the Yalu.
Troop trains are now rolling toward the front, and the Air Force is
shooting them up at the rate of eight to ten per day. Some have been
loaded with high explosives that have shot 5,000 feet into the air .. .
The most interesting report cabled by Gen. Charles Willoughby, Chief
of MacArthur's intelligence, is that the North Koreans seemed to be
getting plenty of Russian arms, including field artillery, but the Chi-
nese are getting nothing. The heaviest Chinese weapon is still the
mortar, and Willoughby reports that no Russian weapons have been
captured from Chinese units .'. .. Perhaps the alliance between Mos-
cow and Peiping isn't working as well as the headlines indicate.
(Copyright, 1951, by the Bell Syndicate, Inc.)
Faculty Politics..*.
To the Editor:
HERE IN Ann Arbor we have a
long tradition of University
faculty participation in partisan
politics in various capacities. The
service which faculty members
have given to both politicaL parties
here has been almost universally
respected and appreciated by the
community.
Nor is Ann Arbor alone in this
tradition. The President of Mich-
igan State Normal College recent-
ly keynoted a Republican conven-
tion and Edgar Waugh of the
MSNC faculty is now the Demo-
cratic candidate for State Supt.
of Public Instruction.
i This is no longer true at Michi-
gan State, however. The State
Board of Agriculture which gov-
erns MSC recently issued an edict
prohibiting faculty members from
participating in partisan politics.
Still more recently, under pres-
sure from the AAUP and the cam-
paign speeches of the Democratic
candidates, Mrs. Raymond Starr
and Hiram Sackett, the ruling was
modified to allow faculty members
to run for office if they either re-
sign or take a leave of absence
without pay. (Without being fac-
etious about either faculty salar-
ies or the cost of living, can we
really say this is much of a
change?)
The Board's public and very no-
ble justification for the action was
to prevent MSC from being "iden-
tified with partisan politics."
Of course, when you fill in the
facts that five out of the six Board
members are Republicans and that
the only recent candidate for a
major office was a Democrat,
there will always be a few cynics
who question where the partisan-
ship lies, and who maintain that
the only way to make MSC non-
partisan is to elect two more
Democrats to make the Board bi-
partisan.
If, as a matter of principle, you
agree with the MSC ban on politi-
cal activity, your course of action
is simple. You simply stay home
and let the Republicans coast in
on election day by default.
Should you feel that the action
of the Republican - dominated
Board is itself partisan, is a typi-
cal Communist tactic, or is inimi-
cal to a free educational system,
you will have no trouble finding
Sackett and Starr in the' Demo-
cratic column next Monday.
-Tom Walsh
* * *
Government .
To the Editor:
W HILE WE ARE quick to note
the obvious in the Kefauver
investigations and to decry the
corruption found among govern-
mental officials, are we not also
failing to recognize our own per-
sonal responsibility for the mal-
feasance and nonfeasance that
has been revealed by the Kefauver
committee?
The essence of a democracy is
that the people will elect and the
leaders will be directly responsible
to the people. But this ideal prin-
ciple is never completely practiced
in this country. The citizens have
to be begged by pleas to their pa-
tAotic and, more effective yet, to
their self interests to vote on elec-
tion days. Even then an election
is considered successful if 50 per
cent of the electorate vote. And
how do they vote? Generally by
party label. True some voters may
have formed definite opinions on
the individual candidates for the
principal office, at stake but they
forget to inform themselves as to
the candidates for the lesser of-
fices on the ballot. It is these
minor officials generally who are
the first to corrode.
Once elected what check does
the average American make on
the elected official? Generally
none unless some accomplishment
or sin of this office holder is
brought to attention via three
i n c h eight column headlines.
When corruption is found .we pi-
ously manifest great indignation.
What in heaven's name permitted
this condition to dev9lop? Public
indifference! The honest and
quietly industriousoffice holder
runs the constant threat that at
the next election the people, not
even knowing his name much less
the quality of his work, will re-
ward him by giving his seat to,
some demagogue like Messrs. But-
ler and McCarthy. We are so eas-
ily fooled by slogans and name
calling.
It appears to be a popular Am-
erican concept that a man whc
announces his intent to ente' pu4b-
lic life is either a crook or fol.
He is subject to ridicule ar.d sus-
picion before he even gets his
name on the ballot. Ous little
minds and our jealousies d stroy
ambitions and ideals befor" they
are even given a chance to flower.
Unfortunately we have too few
honest and able men who will put
their nation's needs above their
personal fears and seek public of-
fice. It is a great man indeed who
has the courage to fight public
indifference and worse, ridicule
and who is willing to suffer the
financial as well as physical and
mental punishment that iunfor-
tunately attends faithful perform-
ance of public duty. Ask. Dean
Acheson.
The Kefauver committee has
exposed more than just a f w'
wretched thieves atdthe politi al
pork barrel. I wonder if we re
intelligent enough to recogn ze
our own individual responsibil y'
for dishonest government and o"
recognize further the seds .f
democracy's destruction?
-Chester J. Byrn
Union Referendum..
To the Editor:
HAVING BEEN ON camp s sie
early 1947, I have heard m h
discussion about Michigan Un n
policies, but seen little dons
Feeling that some action sho d
be taken and that a definite -
pression of student opin on is
needed to guide the Union's Boa d,
I have submitted to the chairn
of the Board of Directors of e
Union, two proposals for ref r-
endum this spring. These proposals
are:
1. "Should the present Michigan
Union policy of denying women the
use of the front door be eliminat-
ed?"
2. "Should the Union cafeteria
be open full time to escorted
women?"
If you are interested in seeing'
these proposals placed on the
spring ballot, I urge that yo~ com-
municate your views to the Un on
vice-president representing youtr
college or school.
);
-John J. I
Handy Plan .
To the Editort
Duffey'
R
I
S A REGULAR inhabitant of
Angell Hall, I wish to +xpr ss t
my appreciation to that unkno n
agency which has so obligin ly
placed plans of the new Lit ch oI1"
building by all the windows t at
offer a view of the constructi n.
By increasing the understand g
of the spectator this little p n
makes the act of watching r rich-.
er and deeper experience.
--Clayton Bredt
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Sixty-First Year
Edited and managed by students of
the University of Michigan under the
authority of the Board in Control of
Student Publications.
Editorial Staff
Jim Brown...g.........Managin Editor
Paul Brentlinger ......City Editor
Roma Lipsky .........Editorial Director
Dave Thomas . ..........Featur# Editor V
Janet Watts ...........Associate Editor
Nancy Bylan . . ........ Associate Editor
James Gregory . .Associate Editor
Bill Connolly............SporSS Editor .
Bob Sandell .... Associate Sports Editor
Bill Brenton .... Associate Sports Editor
Barbara Jans..........Women E or
Pat Brownson Associate Women's Ed for
Business Staff
Bob Daniels .........Business 'Manager
Walter Shapero Assoc. Business Manager
Paul Schaible .....Advertising :tanager
Bob Mersereau.....Finance Manager
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Looking Back
10 YEARS AGO
PRESIDENT RUTHVEN told a Chicago
alumni group that, "There should be no
curtailment in educational training as the
nation plans its defense program."
* * *
BARNABY
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Soehow, Me? Angry? At o myi
th? At a preposterous 1
IHow sca Tnnsse Hnnss
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