TEMPORARY SILENCE

Greymouth Evening Star, 20 September 1946, Page 7

TEMPORARY SILENCE

MR. WALLACE AND FOREIGN POLICY CONFERENCE WITH PRESIDENT WASHINGTON, Sept. IS. The Secretary of Commerce (Mr. Henry Wallace) after a long conference with Mr. Truman at the White House issued a statement declaring that they had a detailed and friendly discussion, after which Mr. Wallace had “reached the conclusion that he would make no more public speeches until the Paris Conference was concluded.” ’ Mr. Wallace told the press that he was saying in the Cabinet. Mr. Truman had not asked him to resign if he would not maintain silence. Confident of Peace Mr. Wallace replied, “Absolutely,” to a question whether he stood by his recent speech. Asked what had led him to decide to remain silent on foreign policy, Mr. Wallace declared: “Because I -am an honest man.” Asked if Mr. Truman had revealed anything that made him feel there weis no need for him to speak up before the Peace Conference ended, Mr. Wallace said: “Mr; Truman is very confident of peace with Russia.” The “New York Times” in a leading article says the conference between Mr. Wallace and MT. Truman ended on an inconclusive and unsatisfactory note. The issue was -not one of free speech for Mr. Wallace, but whether American foreign policy could stand the strain and endure the confusion of two officials of the same Cabinet simultaneously advocating contradictory policies. Far From Satisfactory The Paris correspondent of the New York Times says that Mr. Wallace’s statement is/far from satisfactory to’ the American delegation in Paris Mr. Byrnes expected a good deal more than a temporary truce in view of the severe damage to the prestige of the American delegation, especially among the small friendly na The S Secretary of War (Mr. Robert A Patterson) and the Secretary oi the Navy (Mr. James V. Forrestal) have sent a joint letter to Mr. Truman declaring that there is no basis Mr Henry Wallace’s statement in’h^s’letter, dated July 23 to the President on American policy towards Russia that a school of American thinking is advocating a “preventive war” against Russia before Russia de- i velops atomic bombs. “We know of no responsible offi- ■ cer in the Army or Navy who has ever advocated or even suggested a policy of attacking Russia, said the letter. ~