The Pittsburgh Press (August 2, 1945)
TRUMAN SAILS FOR U.S.
Big Three report due tonight
President and Byrnes guests of King George at cruiser luncheon
‘Good old ‘arry!’ Truman greeted
PLYMOUTH, England (UP) – While President Truman was being driven through Plymouth today, a man shouted: “Good old ‘arry!”
The President laughed and waved in return.
What Poland wants in the way of territory is shown on this map. Under a plan reportedly submitted to the Big Three conference at Potsdam by Polish Vice Premier Stanislas Mikolajczyk, Poland wants to take over all of Germany east of the Oder and Neisse Rivers. If approved, Poland’s western frontier would include all of the German provinces of Pomerania and Silesia and parts of Brandenburg, Saxony and East Prussia. Poland would also get the Danzig zone, Stettin, the great Baltic port, and the key cities of Breslau, Kuestrin and Liegnitz.
PLYMOUTH, England (UP) – President Truman sailed for home aboard the cruiser USS Augusta today after a brief state visit with King George VI aboard the British battlecruiser HMS Renown.
Mr. Truman was hurrying home to report to the nation on the Big Three conference concluded early today at Potsdam. A communiqué on the conference will be issued tonight simultaneously in Washington, London, Moscow and Berlin.
The President and his ranking advisors flew from Berlin for the historic meeting with King George. The King received Mr. Truman for luncheon aboard the HMS Renown and traveled later to the USS Augusta, where he spent half an hour. They were together two and a half hours.
The USS Augusta started pulling out of Plymouth at 3:55 p.m. (10:55 a.m. ET). King George had left the USS Augusta at 3:35 p.m.
When the King boarded the USS Augusta, the President said, “I am pleased to see you again.” King George had welcomed the President aboard the HMS Renown with “Welcome to my country, Mr. President.”
Honor Guard meets King
On the USS Augusta, a Marine Guard of Honor met the King, and a Navy band played “God Save the King” as he came aboard. Then the President and King met and talked in the admiral’s cabin in which President Roosevelt and former Prime Minister Churchill had composed the Atlantic Charter.
At the luncheon on the HMS Renown, Secretary of State James F. Byrnes, the Earl of Halifax, British Ambassador to the United States; Sir Alan Lascelles, the King’s private secretary, and Adm. Sir Ralph Leatham ate with the President and His Majesty.
Mr. Truman left Victory Wharf at Plymouth Harbor for the anchored Renown at 11:10 a.m., after motoring through the bomb ruins of Plymouth from nearby Yelverton Airport.
Six planes used
Mr. Truman and members of the American delegation arrived at Yelverton at 9:45 a.m. in six planes – three Skymasters, two Dakotas and a Flying Fortress.
A London dispatch said the President’s plane was reported to have made an emergency landing at another airport in England because of weather conditions before proceeding to Yelverton.
King George already was waiting aboard the HMS Renown to greet his luncheon guest. He had preceded the President to Plymouth by special train from London during the night.
King in full uniform
The King was in full naval uniform as an admiral of the fleet in contrast to the plain business suit worn by Mr. Truman. Because Britain is still at war, no gun salutes were fired.
Prime Minister Attlee also returned by plane from Potsdam this morning. He landed at Northhold Airdrome outside London. Foreign Secretary Ernest Bevin returned later after making a sightseeing tour of Berlin.
Yelverton Airport was virtually surrounded by U.S. Secret Service Agents and British police officials in preparation for the President’s arrival.
Extensive precautions taken
The precautions to safeguard the President were so extensive that one newsman said it was “Potsdam all over again.”
Shortly after Mr. Truman’s Skymaster landed, John G. Winant, American Ambassador to Britain, and two high-ranking U.S. Army officers arrived aboard a Dakota and joined the motorcade to the harbor.
Big Three agrees on control plan
POTSDAM, Germany (UP) – A British spokesman said the Big Three agreed on the machinery for the control of Occupied Germany at the Potsdam Conference. The conference ended early today.
William Ridsdale, head of the British Foreign Office Press Section, said the Polish and Balkan questions were discussed at the meeting of the American, British and Russian leaders.
Mr. Ridsdale disclosed no details of the agreement on control of Germany and the discussion of Poland and the Balkans.
Communiqué approved
President Truman, Premier Stalin and Prime Minister Attlee, at their final meeting, approved a communiqué on the 17-day meeting in the former German Crown Prince’s Cecilienhof Palace on Wansee Lake. The communiqué will be issued in the Allied capitals within a few hours.
Although the Big Three was known to have discussed the Pacific War, it was understood the communiqué would not mention it because of Russia’s neutrality in the eastern conflict.
Mr. Truman and Mr. Attlee left Berlin in separate planes for England this morning. Stalin’s plans for departure were not disclosed.
The Big Three wound up the Potsdam conference at 12:30 a.m. in an exchange of compliments and an atmosphere of good fellowship.
Two sessions held
Two sessions were held yesterday, with the communiqué the final order of business. The first session was held in the afternoon and the second lasted from 10:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.
After disposal of the main items on the agenda, Mr. Truman asked if there were further business. None developed and he adjourned the conference.
Mr. Attlee made a short speech thanking Stalin for completing preliminary physical arrangements for the conference and complimenting Mr. Truman on his conduct as chairman.
Tributes acknowledged
Both Mr. Truman and Stalin acknowledged the tributes briefly. Stalin praised the foreign secretaries and other members of the three delegations for their work. He also mentioned former Prime Minister Winston Churchill and former Foreign Secretary Anthony Eden.
Mr. Truman enlarged on Stalin’s compliments for the lesser members of the delegations, and a warm exchange of handshakes followed.
Big Three message sent to Churchill
LONDON, England (UP) – The Big Three sent a message of thanks to Winston Churchill and Anthony Eden for their contribution at Potsdam, No. 10 Downing Street announced today.
The message to Mr. Churchill said that:
President Truman, Premier Stalin and Prime Minister Attlee, assembled with the final session of the Berlin conference, desire to send a message of greetings to Mr. Winston Churchill.
They wish to thank him for all his work in the first part of the Berlin conference which helped greatly to lay the foundations of its successful conclusion.
They remember with gratitude the untiring efforts and unconquerable spirit with which at earlier conferences and throughout the war he served our common cause of victory and enduring peace. The whole world knows the greatness of his work and it will never be forgotten.
A similar message went to Mr. Eden.