Eden may sound Truman on early meeting of ‘Big Three’
Churchill, Stalin believed desirous of discussing situation with new premier
WASHINGTON (UP) – British Foreign Secretary Anthony Eden, who came here by plane for Franklin D. Roosevelt’s funeral today, may take an early opportunity to sound out President Truman on the idea of an early meeting of the new “Big Three.”
The question of a new Polish government and the rapid approach of victory in Europe are creating new problems and Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Marshal Joseph Stalin may want to survey the situation personally with their new partner.
Mr. Eden was sent here as Churchill’s personal representative at the Roosevelt funeral. Before he leaves Washington, he will talk with the new President about the role in international affairs that Mr. Roosevelt had carved out for the United States.
No change in policy
Mr. Truman has already assured his allies and the world that his foreign policies will be those of Franklin D. Roosevelt. He did so by retaining Secretary of State Edward B. Stettinius Jr., and the rest of the Roosevelt cabinet. And yesterday he formalized it by authorizing Stettinius to state: “There will be no change of purpose or break of continuity in the foreign policy of the United States government.”
That policy falls into two broad categories: (1) making certain that Nazism or Prussian militarism never again can threaten the peace of the world; (2) creating a world organization to preserve world peace and permanently outlaw the forces of aggression.
First major test
The first major test of the new administration will be at the World Security Conference in San Francisco April 25. It will mark the first time that Mr. Stettinius will be, in effect, on his own.
Mr. Truman is first to admit that he is a neophyte in the field of foreign affairs. But he will have the help of men who have been closely associated with the late President – Harry Hopkins, who served as a special Roosevelt emissary on many important occasions, and James F. Byrnes and Mr. Stettinius, who were at the recent Yalta Conference.
Mr. Roosevelt had planned to open the conference. The new President is now being urged to attend to allay any feeling that he feels less strongly about the great project.
Before the conference opens, Mr. Truman may come fact to face with a diplomatic problem that had plagued the Roosevelt administration – the Polish question. Attempts to form a new Polish government have bogged down and, barring a miracle, Poland will not be represented at San Francisco for the opening.
Many of the plans Mr. Roosevelt had for the future in foreign affairs were drafted in his historic meetings with Stalin and Churchill. It will be one of Mr. Truman’s most difficult jobs to step into that spot and carry on.