Truman Abrupt With Russian Visitors
Bv Scott Payne
Former President Harry S. Truman curtly told the Russian exchange group Saturday that U.S.-Russian relations could be improved only if the Russians would stand by their agreements.
The eight Russians met with Mr. Truman at the Truman Library in Independence, Mo., while on a tour of Kansas City under the sponsorship of the KU-Y
Nikolai Baranov, the Russians' spokesman, opened the interview
with the statement that the group was here as part of a Russian effort to further Soviet-U.S. relations.
MR. TRUMAN REPIED that during World War II relations between the countries had been friendly.
He said:
"We helped the Russians during the war with money and material. President Roosevelt met with Stalin at Yalta during the war and I met with him at Potsdam after the war.
We had friendly conferences but the Russians broke every agreement that we made."
Then Mr. Truman said to Nicholas Beavad, an American citizen who was the interpreter, "Translate that word for word!"
"THE UNITED STATES and its people have wanted disarmament since the end of the war. But Russia won't stand for an inspection that is worthwhile." Mr. Truman said when asked his view on disarmment.
Daily hansan
LAWRENCE. KANSAO
58th Year, No.131
'Jobless' Bill Signed
WASHINGTON—(UPI)President Kennedy signed the controversial $451 million depressed areas bill today and said it would be an "important step" toward putting the jobless to work in areas of chronic unemployment.
The President also announced that William Batt, Jr., now Pennsylvania Commissioner of Labor, would be administrator of the program under Secretary of Commerce Luther A. Hodges.
Monday, May 1, 1961
The President signed the measure, one of the major items in his economic program, at a White House ceremony attended by Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson and major supporters of the legislation. He used almost a score of pens, which later were distributed to the onlookers from Congress.
He said his administration wanted to make it possible for all who want work to find jobs. He said no other piece of legislation would give him greater satisfaction.
Ike Supports Kennedy
GETTYSBURG, Pa. — (UPI) — Former President Eisenhower today strongly supported President Kennedy on Cuba and said a full-scale, public congressional investigation of the recent unsuccessful invasion of Cuba would be an inadvisable "witch-hunt."
The former chief executive made the statement in a news conference after meeting with the Republican congressional leadership.
Mr. Eisenhower declined to join the GOP House and Senate leaders in labeling the Kennedy legislative program thus far as "a big egg."
Eisenhower wanted to stay away from critical political statements because of the international situation but he did call on the Republican
Party to work for a "free, viable economy" and a new measure of unity if the GOP expects to make gains in the 1962 and 1964 elections.
Weather
Cloudy and colder this afternoon with scattered light rain East and some light rain or snow extreme North Central and extreme Northwest. Decreasing cloudiness and cooler tonight with frost and freezing temperatures extreme Northeast. Partly cloudy Tuesday. Warmer Northwest and extreme West. Low tonight near 32 extreme Northeast to near 40 Southwest. High Tuesday 50s East to near 60 West.
Russian Comments On Editorial Page
Featured on the editorial page today is a comprehensive coverage of the Russians' visit. An editorial discusses the divergent views of Russians and Americans. Two Pakistani students describe their luncheon with the Russian visitors.
A UDK reporter who accompanied the Russians to Kansas City over the weekend tells of their reaction to a rebuke from former President Harry S. Truman.
U.S. Jew Tells Of His Grave
JERUSALEM — (UPI) — An American Jew from Fort Lee, N. J. told today how, by almost a miracle, he escaped death at the hands of the Nazis when he had a shovel in his hand digging his own grave
Dr. Leon W. Wells, a tall, slender scientist, testified against Adolf Eichmann at the end of a grim day in which a spectator's nerves broke and he rose shouting at Eichmann: "He killed my family. Let me kill him."
Police took him outside calmed him down and let him return to the courtroom.
The prosecution also presented evidence today that Eichmann personally had signed death warrants ordering the execution of 11 Jews. Eichmann has contended he never gave such commands but merely followed orders himself.
He mentioned that after the war he had appointed a commission which had proposed disarmament to the Soviets.
"But all that we could get from them was 'No!'
"No people want more to be friendly with you than the American people," he added. "But you are going to have to meet us halfway. We can't give you everything you ask."
"Whether we have good relations in the future depends on whether the Russians will be good neighbors and keep their agreements."
WHILE MR. BEVAD was translating this last statement, Mr. Truman abruptly ended the interview and returned to his office. It was all over in five minutes.
The group then visited the Nelson Art Gallery where the visitors viewed early and late Renaissance art, and then contemporary art. At this point several of the Russians left the Gallery and returned to the bus, terminating the tour after less than an hour.
After leaving the gallery, the bus drove to downtown Kansas City, Mo. The group split up and shopped for an hour and a half before returning to Lawrence.
Throughout the tour, the Russians frequently interrupted discussions by singing.
Roy D. Laird, assistant professor of political science and leader of the tour, said:
"Some have asked about the value of the Russians' visit. Other have expressed fear over the strength of the beliefs of our visitors. Surely this is healthy for us to see that these people are real, alive and that they believe in Communism.
"More important, those most perceptive among our students saw that our world is in a struggle for the minds of men and it is only for them to answer whether the single, monolithic, dogmatic approach or an approach which encourages the contest of all ideas (pluralism) has the greatest strength in the long run.
"For my part, some students who have doubts, will always be closer to the truth than will any individual or group insisting that there is only one truth—only one way to which all else must succumb."
News Conference Held
"MY HOPE IS, however, that all of our students might have perceived what some have — that our guests have a narrow dogmatic approach, that all their answers must somehow be fitted to the Marxist-Leninist philosophy, that it was no coincidence that they feared and resisted being split up into small groups or individually. As one said, the GPU (the Russian secret police) is no longer present and terror is no longer a major force in Russia. But he was not too convincing in his certainty that the secret police still do not exist in a muted form.
Nikolai G. Baranov, spokesman for the Russian visitors, told newsmen at a press conference today the Russian people believe in the peaceful intentions of Americans.
"But at the same time we suspect the danger of an attack upon our country," he said.
The Russians leave today at 4:45 p.m. for Washington, D.C. May 9, they will return to their country.
Mr. Baranov said the Russians' suspicion of a possible attack is based on the following observations:
- Many military bases of the United States are located in territory surrounding the U.S.S.R.
- The United States "has initiated pacts and military blocs."
- The United States has not accepted any of the disarmament proposals made by the Soviet Union.
- "Many prominent Americans have made aggressive speeches against the Soviet Union.
In answer to another question, Mr. Baranov said the Russians believe peaceful coexistence is possible between this country and the Soviet Union.
"We do sincerely believe our two systems can coexist for a very long time," Mr. Baranov said.
He added that for almost half a century the two systems have coexisted and there is no reason now to think that continued coexistence is not possible.
Weather May Delay U. S. Astronaut Shot
CAPE CANAVERAL — (UPI)
— A prediction of bad weather today raised doubts whether America's first man-in-space shot will go as planned tomorrow morning.
The National Space Agency has set fairly rigid minimum conditions for the launching. The astronaut and the Redstone rocket apparently were ready to go.
Russians Present 'Communist Commercial'
Russian visitors talk...
By Fred Zimmerman
Eight Russian visitors delivered a lengthy Communist commercial Friday to the largest crowd ever to attend a Current Events Forum.
THE COMMUNISTS were seemingly undaunted by several pointed questions from the audience, which overflowed the Forum Room of the Kansas Union. All available floor space was taken. Some students stood on tables outside and looked through the door.
The main topic was Soviet education. The Russians repeatedly emphasized that the Soviet educational system is superior to that of the United States.
Mavr M. Davtyan, secretary of the city committee of the Armenian Komsomol, stated in an opening speech that three times more engineers graduate annually in the Soviet Union than in the United States.
Mr. Davtyan continued, "I would like to point out that our system of education is so progressive that it put the first man into orbit and brought him back."
PROUD REFERENCES to the pioneering space flight of Maj, Yuri A. Gagarin have been a recurrent theme of the visitors.
Mr. Davytan triggered another pot shot at American education with an antecede he said an Iowa State University professor had told the Rus-
(Continued on page 8)
. . . American students listen.