Kansas State Historical Society Topeka, Ks.
Daily hansan
LAWRENCE, KANSAS
50th Year, No. 98
Wednesday, March 4, 1953
Ailing Stalin May Freeze Cold War Peace Prospects
Josef Stalin Near Death
Moscow—(U.P.)—Premier Josef Stalin lay paralyzed and unconscious from a brain hemorrhage today, and the stunned Russians—from whom the news had been withheld for 48 hours—learned that state and party leaders had taken over his duties.
A medical bulletin told them the 73-year-old Premier on the night of March 2 had suffered a "sudden brain hemorrhage affecting vital
United Nations, N.Y. — (U.P.) Diplomats here agreed today that the death or incapacitation of Premier Josef Stalin would throw the United Nations into a twilight period of indecision — leaving scant hope for immediate progress in settling the cold war.
AN INSPECTOR CALLS AND TALKS-Dan Palmquist, instructor in speech, playing the title role in J. B. Priestley's "An Inspector Calls," takes a few notes while talking to Molly Kruivel, wife of Arthur Kruivel, instructor in English, and Sam Smith, college freshman. The play begins tonight in Fraser theater and will
There was sharp disagreement on whether a change in leadership in Moscow would set the Kremlin on a more peaceful course or lead the world closer to a third world war.
The announcement of Premier Stalin's grave illness caught UN diplomats and their staffs totally off-guard. Even the Russian representatives apparently had no advance news of the condition of their premier.
President Dwight D. Eisenhower today took note of Premier Stalin's illness by issuing a statement asserting his belief that the Russian people as a whole share the American desire "for a friendly and peaceful world."
will be open and active.
Positions being filled are president, vice president, treasurer, secretary, and two All Student Council representatives, one independent and the other a greek.
Former President Harry S. Truman said he was "in no position" to comment on the effects of the illness of Russian Premier. Mr. Truman, in his office in the Federal Reserve Bank building, said, "Of course I'm sorry to hear of his trouble. I'm never happy over anybody's physical breakdown."
breakdown:
Prime Minister Winston Churchill was one of the first statesmen of the non-Communist world to express his sympathy to the Russians on the critical illness of Premier Stalin.
Polls are located in the rotunda of Strong hall, first floor Fraser hall, in the Hawk's Nest lobby, and will be open until 5 p.m. today.
The 78-year-old Prime Minister, for a generation a bitter bite of communism, awoke to 6 a.m. and a member of his household staff immediately read him the reports of Premier Stalin's stroke.
By Mr. Churehill's instruction his private secretary, called at the Soviet embassy as soon as it opened and expressed to Russian Ambassador Andrei A. Gromyko the Prime Minister's sympathy. He asked Mr. Gromyko to keep Mr. Churchill informed of Premier Stalin's condition.
Congressmen generally were cautious in their comments. Some hoped "more reasonable elements" would come to power; others felt a government along the present lines would be maintained in event of Premier Stalin's death.
Oratory Briefing Set for Thursday
Elections for officers of the Associated Women Students are being held today. All women are eligible to vote upon presentation of ID cards.
Students interested in entering the Delta Sigma Rho oratorical contest are invited to a meeting at 4 p.m. Thursday in Green 105. Problems of preparing and delivering an oration will be discussed by E.C. Buehler, professor of speech.
Delta Sigma Rho, honorary debate fraternity, changed the name from the Lorraine Buehler Oratorical contest when it assumed sponsorship this year.
First prize in the contest is a set of the American encyclopedia. Second prize is $20 and third $10
The contest will be held in April. It is the only oratory contest open to all University students, according to Prof. Buehler.
5 p.m. Deadline Set For AWS Elecction
Free Dances Start Tonight
Free dancing every Wednesday night,starting at 8 tonight,will be held in the Trail room of the Union building.
Van Fleet Urges Draft Increase
Washington — (U,P)— Gen. James A. Van Fleet proposed today the draft term be lengthened from its present two years "to 30 or 36 months" because American troops in Korea are "running short" of trained replacements.
play through Saturday.
Gen. Van Fleet said the longer draft term would allow more time for training without cutting down the time available for actual military service.
The retired 8th Army commander testified publicly before the House Armed Services committee. Although Committee Chair Dewey Short (R-Mo.) had told him to "let his hair down," the 60-year-old fighting man side-stepped some questions on 8th Army "policies and plans and missions."
But he did testify that:
"We are running short in our replacement of American units in Korea." Gen. Van Fleet told the committee, adding that "we are under strength and short of a great number of junior leaders and skill it takes to command troops."
2. The communists could have been "finished off" in 1951 if the United Nations had followed up a Red defeat of that year.
James W. Wigglesworth, Lawrence city manager, will speak at a dinner of the American Society of Military Engineers at 6:15 p.m. today at the Hearth Tea room. The ASME is made up of Army ROTC cadets in the engineering field.
1. The Korean deadlock is neither a stalemate nor a checkmate imposed by the enemy, but a "sitdown—of our own choice."
Concerning American replacements, Gen. Van Fleet said flatly that not enough men are being called up "in this country."
Lawrence Official to Speak
3. South Korea has enough manpower for 10 more divisions, but South Koreans cannot now replace Americans entirely.
Mystery Thriller Starts 4-Day Run Here Tonight
J. B. Priestley's "An Inspector Calls" will begin its four-day run tonight at 8 in Fraser theater.
Student ID cards may be presented at the box office in Green hall basement for tickets until 4 p.m. today; from 9 a.m. to noon and 2-4 p.m. tomorrow and Friday, and from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday.
Thomas Schocken, associate professor of architecture, makes his debut as a set-designer, collaborating with Mrs. Frances Feist, instructor in speech and director of the play, to produce a background.
Mary Kinnane, assistant instructor in speech and drama, who plays Edna, a maid in the mystery thriller, was educated in Liverpool, England, so she was consulted frequently during rehearsals for the English play. Tonight will mark her first appearance in Fraser theater.
Another newcomer to the University Theater is Sam Smith, college freshman. He plays Arthur Birling, a 1912 British industrialist.
Dan Palmquist, instructor in speech, who has the part of Inspector Goole, is a veteran actor, as is Robert Allen, KLWN announcer, who plays Gerald Crofts. Mr. Allen appeared as Popoff in "The Merry Widow" and had the lead in last year's "The Lady's Not for Burning."
Jo Ann March, college junior, plays Sheila Birling, the feminine lead. She is the first Lawrence girl to have the lead in a University Theater production for several years.
Another cast member, Stewart Gordon, college senior, is better known on the campus as a musician than an actor. He composed the music for "Thief in the Night," presented last year. Gordon appears as Eric Biring in his first play here.
Molly Krival, wife of Arthur S. Krival, instructor in English, has the part of Sybil Birling. She also appeared in "The Lady's Not for Burning" last year.
Club to Give Play In Little Theater
"Christmas Shopping," one-act play by Artur Schnitzler, Austrian playwright, will be presented by the German club Thursday and Friday at 5 p.m. in the Little theater, Green hall.
The part of Anatol, the play's hero, will be played by William Sollner, graduate student, and Gabrielle by Shirley Strain, college senior.
Dr. John Newfeld, director of University theater, will direct the play, which will be given in English.
Mary Beth Moore, college senior, is assistant stage director; Richard McGhee, college junior, in charge of scenery.
Admission is free.
areas of the brain, as a result of which he developed a paralysis of the right leg and the right arm, with loss of consciousness and speech." The bulletin added that on March 2 and 3, "necessary measures for treatment were undertaken."
It said Stalin was stricken in his apartment in the Kremlin. The statement expressed confidence that "our party and the whole Soviet people will in these difficult days display
A government statement began by announcing "a great misfortune which has befallen our party and our people—the grave illness of Comrade J. V. Stalin."
Stalin's Illness Similar to Lenin's
London — (U.P.) — Josef Stalin's grave illness bears a close resemblance to the malady that killed his predecessor, V. I. Lenin in 1924.
Mr. Lenin suffered hardening of the brain arteries which, as in Mr. Stalin's case, paralyzed his right arm and leg and impaired his speech. But his illness was a lingering one that lasted two years.
He died Jan. 21, 1924 at Gorky, near Moscow.
the greatest unity, cohesion, staunchness of spirit, and vigilance."
Hundreds of men and women wept in the streets. It was a day of brilliant sunshine and snow lay deep in the parks. The temperature was a few degrees below freezing.
to the generation of Russians born since the revolution, the fact that Stalin could be ill appeared to be almost inconceivable.
There have been predictions that Stalin's death or serious illness might touch off a struggle for power within the Central committee, possibly centering around such individuals as Vyacheslav Molotov, Stalin's longtime collaborator; party secretary Georgi Malenkov, or Laurenti Beria, head of the secret police. A British foreign office spokesman said recently that Britain believed such a struggle might already be underway.
There was no indication as to Stalin's possible successor in the event of his death, but information reaching London indicated that Viaclashev Molotov, as senior vice premier, would sit at the head of the Council of Ministers during the emergency.
There was speculation that should Stalin die, the world might not hear of it for hours or even days. When Vladimir Lenin, Stalin's predecessor died Jan. 21, 1924, Moscow censors delayed transmission of the news to the outside world for 18 hours.
The news was even more stunning after recent foreign visitors to Stalin had reported him in perfect health and spirits. His most recent foreign visitor was the Indian ambassador, K.P.S. Menon.
Campus Frolickers Find Fun in Snow
Whether Mark Twain said it or not, it's wrong.
People are doing something about the weather.
They're trying to enjoy it.
Last night the famous 14th-street hill was the scene of a well-organized sledding party. While guards stood at Louisiana and Ohio streets to watch for cars, a sturdy home-made bobsled ran the downhill course for about two hours.
The sled, put together yesterday afternoon by Paul Enos, engineering freshman, and Dean Melkus, college junior, has 2x4 runners and can carry as many as six persons.
Its speed on the 14th street descent was estimated at about 20 miles an hour. Even with the steering gear designed by Melkus, the sled followed a somewhat erratic path as it plummeted from the Museum of Art to Tennessee street.
C. J. Posey, volunteer weather observer for the Lawrence area, today said that $ 7 \frac{1}{2} $ inches of snow has fallen since the fall began Sunday. Very little thawing has taken place.
This fact has become painfully evident to the many students who have to thread their way up and down the Battenfeld steps several times daily. The handrail affords little protection. Each hour's traffic brings about a dozen falls, including a few persons who kept a death-grip on the rail the whole time.
Snowball fights and snow sprites managed to deposit about a half ton of snow on the back door entrance of Sellards hall last night before campus police intervened. This morning it was still very much there and the milkman made his usual delivery—a bottle at a time through the window.