Senator Wm. Langer Rigged jury stem hit foals —NEW YORK The trial of the 12 U.S. Commun- ist leaders on a frame-up_indict- ment is now in its third week. The 12 men were indicted by a federal grand jury which said they helped organize gq political party based on the teachings of Karl Marx and V. I. Lenin. The Communist defendants have put the government “in the dock” on the question of an undemocratic, unconstitutional federal jury syS- tem. It is trial within a trial to- day. Hand-picking of juries is “flag- rant, un-American and totally in- . excusable,” charged Senator Wil- liam Langer (R-N.D.) in an at- tack on the system this week. Counsel for the defense are seek- ing to void the indictment on these grounds. Chief Judge John C. Knox of the Southern District said that in the matter of hand-picked jurors, 8 admit my guilt. Nevertheless, un- less restrained by a higher author- ity to which I must yield, jurors in my district will continue to be with sham concern for UN rights By ISRAEL EPSTEIN Premier Stalin of the Soviet Union has offered to meet President Truman to talk over U.S.-Soviet differences which rend the world and endanger peace. Truman has replied that even if Stalin which Stalin said his health did not permit, there would be no ‘serious him at the White House and a social Truman’s reason for refusing to negotiate talks, but only a guest room for meal put up by Mrs. Trman. was that any move on international matters would be improper outside the United Nations. (Actually, the UN’s scope excludes such matters as Germany, one of the main issues. The UN was not set up to make the peace with Second World War foes, but to get cooperation after it). The Truman who gave this \ reason is the same Truman who did not mention the UN when -he instructed Ambassador Wal- ter Bedell Smith to explore dis- cussions in Moscow (outside the UN) last May. He is the same Truman whom George C. Marsh- all, then secretary of state, re- strained from his proposal of sending Chief Justice Fred M. Vinson to Moscow (again out- side the UN), a proposal that was very good for votes just be- fore the election. He is also the same Truman who sent U.S. dollars and arms to Greece, Turkey and China outside the UN, who backed the Marshall plan for Europe outside the UN, and whose inaugural speech con- tained a world-wide “anti-Com- munist” program outside the UN. * * * ' Secretary of State Dean Ache- son also had a smart answer for Stalin, too smart perhaps. Begin- ning with a slur about “no man of conscience” playing politics with peace, Acheson went on to mock the 68-year-old Stalin’s statement that his dectors did not advise air or sea travel with the facetious re- mark that Stalin “thus seems to be effectively grounded.” Saying Truman did not intend to “travel half way around the world” either, Acheson suggested no alternative. hand-picked, and it will be done with care.” Acheson still hasn’t said how Marshall plan French industries to close Ts yuaanes of French workers compelling —-PARIS are being laid off as a result of Marshall plan imports from the U.S., according to La Vie Ouvrierc (Workers Life), weekly newspaper tion of Labor (CGT). Reporting on aj survey of factories in the Puy-de-Dome industrial re- gion, the paper says all plants de- pendent on imported American raw materials are unable to compete on the French and international mar- kets because of high prices arbi- trarily fixed by U.S. Marshall planners. The town of Thiers, which spe- cializes in cutlery production, finds jt even harder than before. the war to compete with similar lines turn- ed out by the German cutlery center of Solingen. the paper says. This is blamed on “priority given to German recovery under the Mar- shall plan.” The Bergougnan tire factory at Clermont-Ferrand has had to lay off its research and engineering staffs, since it can get orders only ‘for tires manufactured under U.S. specifications, ‘ Similar examples are cited from the metal, construction, canning, pharmaceutical and insecticide in- dustries. Canning plants have let out most of their, workers and are virtually. out of business as a Te- sult of U.S. canned food imports. Instead of rehabilitating France, the union newspaper con- cludes, Marshall plan operations are “a death warrant” for many French industries. Soy of the French General Confedera- \ Chile releases 500 prisoners . —SANTIAGO The Chilean government has ordered the release of over 500 labor prisoners whom it had kept without trial in the Pisagua con- centration camp since the great coal strike of 1947. It also withdrew the special pow- ers act which curtailed Chilean civil rights. The government's action follow- ad a world-wide labor campaing. The government statement an- nouncing the release criticized not only the Communist party, to which some of the prisoners’ belonged, but, also the Socialist and Radical- Democratic parties, which recently joined in pressure for the closing of the concentration camp. It claimed that, when the orig- inal arrests were made, “the So- cialist faction headed by S. Am- puero supplied the government with lists of those Communist leaders who should be .. . sent to Pisagua.” came to Washington, the U.S. proposes to help ease world tensions outside the chan- nels that have already proved in- adequate. The Russians at least suggested a new channel. _ Acheson further made a case for past peace moves by the U.S. (such as demobilization of a large part of the forces after the war), which he implied were not recip- rocated by the USSR. As a matter of fact, the USSR also demobilized. Moreover, the USSR withdrew its troops from several countries near its borders —but far from the U.S.—in which U.S. forces still remain. It pulled out of China in 1946—the last U.S. Marines are only preparing to leave China now. It left Korea a couple of months ago. U.S. forces are still there. It has proposed joint withdarwal even from Ger- many—without reply. ‘ The U.S. complains that Com- Truman rebuffs Stalin’s peace bid Israel’s first election munist and pro-Soviet native groups have had top billing in all} areas occupied by the Soviet army. Groups favored by. the U.S. in areas under American occupation unfortunately often included fas- cists. Another point Acheson made was that the U.S. could not talk to the USSR on any matter affecting the interests of other nations if the latter weren’t invited. The matter referred to was Germany. It is true that other nations are involv- ed—France and Britain which oc- cupy part of the country, also Po- land, Czechoslovakia and others which were invaded by Hitler. But everyone knows that sagree- ment or disagreement between the giants, the U.S. and Russia, swings those countries too. Britain wanted to socialize German industry but the U.S. said no, so she couldn't. France wanted to prevent west German industrial but the U.S. said Germany must produce more steel, so it’s happen- ing. Did General Lucius Clay con- sult all concerned when he freed the Nazi murderer Ilse Koch? All countries are ranged on two] | sides on Germany. The leaders of the two sides should talk. * * * Stalin is accused of launching a “peace offensive” to offset the so- ealled North Atlantic defence pact. His government has told Norway, Here Israeli Prime Minister aimee: David Ben-Gurion (second from left) casts his ballot in Israel’s first national election of a con- stituent assembly. In Tel Aviv, general secretary Mikunis of the Israeli Communist party declared that serious administrative mis- takes made during preparations for the election deprived tens of thousands of citizens of their electoral rights. rearmament, |. which borders the. U.S.S.R., that it would frown on her joining the pact: What is so peculiar about that? What if Mexico joined a “defence pact” involving her ‘rearmament with Russian weapons and led by) the Soviet Union? Would we blame. the U.S. if it chided: Mexico? Would we accuse the U.S. of guile if it tried to ease the whole world situ- ation and pull the rug out from under such a pact? After all, no one has accused the Russians of trying to attack Norway. * That's what we mean by say- ing that Acheson, a clever law-) yer, may be too clever for ordin- ary folks’ minds. If sudden peace prospects upset a Wall Street economy that fends off slumps by war preparations, maybe pro- ducing homes and more goods for the American people would fill the gap? Even if differences be- tween Russia and America re- main, as they will, why not ease ANSWERS QUESTIONS Following is the full text of Premier Joseph Stalin’s replies to four questions addressed to him by correspondent Kingsbury Smith of Hearst’s International New Service: 1. Question: Would the gov- emment of the USSR be pre- pared to consider issuance of a _ joint declaration with the gov- ernment of the United States of America asserting that the re- spective governments have. no in- tention of resorting to war against one another? Answer: The Soviet govern- men would be prepared to con- sider issuance of such a declara- tion. ernment of the USSR be pre- pared to join with the govern- ment of the United States of America in measures designed them? People will want to know. Stalin states position on peace, disarmament 2. Question: Would the gov- : objection to such a meeting. to implement this pact of peace, such as gradual disarmament? Answer: Naturally the gov- ernment of the USSR would co- operate with the goverment of the United States of America in taking measures designed to implement this pact of peace and leading to gradual dis- armament. 3. Question: If the govern- ments of the United States of America, the United Kingdom and France agree to postpone establishment of a separate west- ern German state, pending a meeting of the Council of For- eign Ministers. to consider the erman problem as a whole, would the government of | the USSR be prepared to remove the restrictions which the Soviet authorities have imposed- on-com- munications between Berlin and the western zones of Germany? Answer: Provided the United States of America, Great Brit- ain and France observe the con- ditions set forth in the third question, the Soviet government sees-no obstacles to lifting trans- port restrictions, understanding, however, that transport and trade restrictions by the three powers should be lifted simul- taneously. 4. Question: Would your ex- cellency be prepared to confer with President Truman at a mutually suitable place to dis- cuss the possibility of conclud- ing such a pact of peace? Answer: I have already stated before that there is no PACIFIC TRIBUNE — FEBRUARY 11, 1949 — PAGE 3