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University Daily Kansan
45th Year No. 108
Friday, March 12, 1948
STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
Friday, March 12, 1948
Lawrence, Kansas
Anti-Communist Pact Approved By 5 Powers
Brussels, March 12—(UP)—Five western European powers headed by Britain and France approved today an unprecedented 50-year draft treaty of military alliance designed to halt the westward march of communism.
(Radio Moscow immediately attacked the treaty, asserting it would lack "either legal force or international authority" because the people of the countries concerned were not consulted.)
The pact binds Britain, France,
Belgium, the Netherlands and Lux-
embourg to throw all their military
power into battle if any one of the
countries is attacked by an outside force.
The pact is looked upon as the foundation of an eventual western European union stretching from the Arctic to the Mediterranean. It is hoped that many of the 16 Marshall plan nations meeting in Paris Monday will subscribe to the treaty.
day when she exact provisions of the new pact were not disclosed. A communique said only that it would include clauses covering economic, social, cultural and mutual assistance.
The pact will be signed by the foreign ministers of the five countries next week in Brussels and each government will make public the "substance" of the treaty, the communique said.
or such other it. It was generally believed the five foreign ministers would meet in Brussels March 17 to sign the pact.
The conference, speeded by the communist coup in Czechoslovakia and events in Finland, agreed on the treaty in nine days, which was believed to set a record for a pact of such far-reaching importance.
Reliable sources said the mutual aid clauses called for automatic military assistance in event of aggression. Any disputes among the signers would be settled by appeal to the international high court at The Hague.
Pearson Lied Truman Says
Washington, March 12 — (UP)— President Truman has, denounced columnist Drew Pearson as a liar and author of a "vicious statement." Mr. Pearson replied with a defense of his accuracy.
his account at the issue was whether Mr. Trump merely told a publisher that New York Jews are disloyal to their country—as reported by Mr. Pearson in his syndicated column Monday.
day:
Without mentioning Mr. Pearson by name, Mr. Truman told his press conference yesterday:
"I want to pay attention to a vicious statement that was made by a columnist in a New York paper, in which he said I had made the statement here to an editor of a New York paper that the Jews in New York were disloyal. I had thought I would not have to add another liar's star to that fellow's crown, but I will have to do it. That is just a lie out of the whole cloth. That is as emphatic as I can put it."
"I regret to say that my quotation of the conversation between President Truman and the New York publisher was all too accurate," he said. "But I am glad that the president has now reconsidered his intemperate words."
Mr. Pearson held his ground.
Mr. Pearson's Monday column said Mr. Truman made the "disloyal" remark during a conversation on the Palestine situation with a New York publisher whose wife is Jewish.
Last Dance Class To Be Saturday
The last of the Union sponsored Latin-American dancing classes will be held from 2 to 3:30 p.m. in the Union ballroom.
First scheduled for March 20, the dance was set for Saturday because of conflicting programs in the Union ballroom.
Several new types of rumba steps and variations will be taught. Miss Elaine Selicovitz, instructor, will demonstrate some technique and refinements of the dance.
Czech Reds Ban US Bulletin
Prague, March 12—(UP)—Premier Klement Gottwald's Communist government disclosed today that it had suppressed the U. S. information bulletin containing Secretary of State George C. Marshall's statement that a "reign of terror" exists in Prague.
Post office authorities informed the U. S. embassy that the bulletin, issued Wednesday, had been confiscated from the mails.
This development coincided with a claim in the Communist party newspaper Rude Pravo that there was no terror in Prague and that "not a hair of anyone's head has been harmed."
AI police communique meanwhile reported that Josef Herod, former regional secretary of the Nationalist Socialist party in Moravia, had committed suicide in prison yesterday. Mr. Herod was held on charges of participating in an "espionage network."
The spy network, according to the police announcement, was established by Vladimir Krajina, former general secretary of the National Socialists, and Ota Horsert, a member of parliament.
S. D. Flora, federal meteorologist, reported that Kansas may expect rapid moderation of record March temperatures which again early today dipped below zero in western counties.
Topeka, March 12.—(UP)—The weatherman had good news—the fair and warmer kind—today for winter-weary Kansas.
Rude Pravo's article said that the Czech middle classes were "longing for a bloody revenge" and were looking forward to "hanging the Communists when things change".
A warm sun beamed from cloudless skies over the state today and southerly winds aided in alleviating one of the most severe periods of March weather in Kansas history.
Deep Freeze Will Melt
But this attitude, the paper said, was supported "only by a couple hundred students."
By Sunday the mercury may reach 50 degrees, he said.
Snow still covered the state and it will be several days before it melts off, the weatherman asserted. He reported the snow was 8 to 14 inches deep in western Kansas and 3 to 6 inches in the east.
Five roads remained closed but the highway commission said they would be opened by tonight.
Garden City reported a state low of 12 below early this morning. All major highways were open to traffic, though there was some one-way movement at spots.
'UMT Trainees Not In Army,' Says Alfrey
Trainees under the universal military training program will not be in the army, Lt. Col. John Alfrey, R. O. T. C. commanding officer, said last night at a U. M. T. forum.
last fight as a U. M. man.
"Men being trained actually will be civilians and not subject to the articles of war," he explained.
Colonel Alfrey presented the affirmative argument to the question, "Should a program of universal military training be adopted?" The Rev. John Warren Day, dean of Grace Episcopal cathedral, Topeka, argued the negative. Robert M. Davis, professor of law, was moderator.
"We m ust choose between peace and war," Dean Day said. "Universal military training is a step toward war. It is not a plan for peace."
He emphasized that the atom bomb has increased the need for additional specialized reserve force personnel who could be mobilized quickly.
"Bacteriological warfare makes the atom bomb obsolete," the Rev. Mr. Day argued. "We can not build a 'Maginot line' because of the striking power of the air and sea forces of other countries."
Colonel Alfrey quoted the opinion of James Forrestal, United States secretary of defense, when he said. It is "impossible to guarantee the defense of the United States without universal military training."
"To stop communism we must aid reconstruction of Europe," he added.
White Fund Gets $250
The William Allen White foundation received a $250 check today from a mysterious Dallas, Texas benefactor.
Virginia Lou Stephenson, '47, has been elected national employment director of Gamma AlnaChi Chi, professional advertising fraternity for women.
He is Martin Fruman, Wilson building, Dallas. According to records of the alumni office and the registrar, Mr. Fruman never attended the University.
A letter from the Fashion Group of New Orleans explained that the donation was made in connection with a millinery event staged there Feb. 8. The letter was signed by Miss Mary Curtis Studer, regional director.
Graduate Elected To Employment Post
Leading millinery designers created 21 hats especially for the event. With Hollywood's Gracie Allen serving as autoneer, the hats were sold for charity. The highest bidder for each hat was privileged to name the charity to which he wished the money to go. Mr. Fruhman named the William Allen White foundation.
As employment director she will co-ordinate all job outlets throughout the country for members who are being graduated from college. Miss Stephenson is the charter member of Nu chapter of Gamma Alpha Chi which was installed at the University in June, 147.
His bid was highest on a hat called "Louise Anna," designed by Grace Nugent. Mr. Fruhman turned the hat back for resale and the second buyer presented it to Gracie Allen. Mr. Fruhman's donation was the second highest at the auction. The highest was a $300 donation to the Cancer society. A total of $4,005 was raised for charity.
Schools Offer Good Scholarships
Scholarships and fellowships from universities all over the United States are offered to students in political science and public administration.
Among the schools offering scholarships are the University of Washington, Columbia university, Syracuse university, and Penn State college.
Students interested should see Prof. E. O. Stene, associate professor of political science.
'Communists Try To Use YWCA'
New York, March 12—(UP) Communists are attempting to propagandize three million teen-age girls through the Young Women's Christian Association, a committee of New York civic leaders charged today.
"Communication has been rampant in the Y.W.C.A. for a number of years," said Mrs. Earl French, a member of the committee.
Mrs. French, who resigned in October as president of the Queens Y.W.C.A., charged that the Y's songbook included two songs which appear in the official songbook of the Communist party. She said these were "Drill Ye Terriers" and "Sing Along the Way." She also charged that the official publication of the Y.W.C.A. "Women's Press," carries pro-Communist material.
The five-member committee was chosen at a meeting of 40 church leaders and American Legion officials Thursday.
Edward H. Potter, an assistant New York district attorney and member of the national board of the Y.W.C.A. attended the meeting. He said he planned to retain his office in the association while aiding the campaign.
"The proper place to fight Communistic infiltration is within the Y itself," he said. "We realize the danger but we also see it in the American Legion and every other group."
Mrs. French said she has turned over documents supporting the committee's charges to the house un-American activities committee, and that she and others would be willing to testify at any hearings that might be held.
The committee was instructed by the meeting to set up an organization to carry on a nationwide campaign, both to publicize their views and to actively combat leftist activities in the association.
University Y.W.C.A. officials denied charges of "Communist activity" in the organization, so far as this campus is concerned.
Mrs. Christine Alford, Y.W.C.A. secretary, said "I am amazed that a national committee would make such a broad statement concerning an organization made up of hundreds of independent groups, each having its own government and choice of program."
"A poll of the 500 Y.W.C.A. members on this campus would reveal the fact that they have never been urged to think any definite way, and that participation in schools of thought or action is entirely a personal matter." Mrs. Alfred also said that the songs e Terriers" and "Along the Way" did not appear in the regional songbook.
Miss Martha Peterson, former chairman of the Y.W.C.A. advisory board, said, "I can see no connection between the charge and what experience I have had here. The Y.W.C.A. is not an agency for propagandizing."
Miss Margaret Habein, Dean of Women, is not officially connected with the Y.W.C.A., but she has worked with it. "I have seen nothing to indicate the criticism can be applied to the University Y.W.C.A.
US May Abandon UN Program For Palestine
New York, March 12—(UP)—Responsible United Nations sources expressed the belief today that the United States has abandoned the U. N. program for partitioning Palestine.
The sources said the United States' attitude virtually guaranteed that the U.N. must retreat from its three-months-old decision to divide the Holy Land into independent Arab and Jewish states.
This sentiment was not restricted to supporters of partition in the United Nations. Some opponents of the U. N. Palestine plan, it was known, have expressed certainty that the present American attitude means the U. N. will back down from partition. These persons expect a strong movement soon for transforming Palestine into a federated Arab-Jewish state.
The new American attitude toward the U. N. Palestine decision appeared to some to be reflected in the position of American delegate Warren R. Austin in the private big power consultations on partition.
The American position has created some apprehensions among the diplomats and U. N. employees who believe that a retreat from the partition program will be a fatal blow for the world organization.
Mr. Austin's insistence on consulting with Arabs and Jews threatened to break up the talks, which were slated to resume this afternoon (at about 2:30 p. m. E. S. T.) in the headquarters of the French U. N. delegates.
American sources said Austin would insist on calling in Jews and Arabs despite the announcement by Andrei A. Gromyko that Russia would "not participate" in Arab-Jewish conciliation attempts at this stage.
Meyers Case Goes To Jury
Washington, March 12—(UP)—A federal jury begins deliberating today whether Maj. Gen. Bennett E. Meyers was a smooth-talking "conniver" or just a sentimental sugar laddy during his fling in the plane-parts business.
Indications were that the 10 men and two women may reach a verdict by nightfall.
General Meyers is charged with three counts, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years imprisonment. He is accused of persuading a former business associate, Bleriot H. Lamarre, to lie to senate investigators about the general's connection with Aviation Electric corporation.
In his closing argument to the jury yesterday, Assistant U. S. Attorney Edward Molenof said the general set up Aviation Electric because of his love of money and not—as General Meyers claims—out of affection for Mr. Lamare's attractive young wife.
The defense based its case entirely on a legal technicality. It claimed that the senate war investigating subcommittee, which first exposed General Meyers' dual war-time role, was not properly authorized and hence could not administer an oath. Without an oath, it contended, there could be no question of perjury.
WEATHER