Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 53, Number 223, Decatur, Adams County, 22 September 1955 — Page 9

Many Decisions Faced By Truman In Early Days

y - (Editor’s note: The following story on the first installment of Volume 1 of the Truman Memoirs was written by Robert G. Nixon, INS correspondent with Mr. Truman during his entire tenure in the White House. Nixon accompanied the former President to the Potsdam conference in 1945, and on ail of Mr. Truman’s travels during his presidency.) By ROBERT G. NIXON WASHINGTON (INS) — Harry S. Truman was told when he became President that the still to be perfected atomic bomb might "destroy the whole world." A naval adviser said with equal conviction the "fool thing . . . will never go off," Rut a top U. S. nuclear expert gave the new President' "a scientist’s version” of the bomb, assured him It would work and estimated its probable destructive power. Truman chose to believe the scientist and ordered the work continued in an effort to perfect a weapon that would "end the war.” This decision was one of the many that confronted Truman in the first few days after he became President when Franklin Delano Roosevelt died suddenly on April

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DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

12. 1945. It is revealed in the first installment of Volume 1 of the Truman Memoirs. "Years of Decisions,” which will be serialized by Life Magazine, beginning in its Sept. 26 issue, and by the New York Times and St. Ixiuis Post Dispatch beginning in their Sept. 25 issues. The initial installment of the memoirs covers Truman’s first 18 hectic days in the White House. Truman first learned something of the enormous efforts to construct an atomic bomb within minutep after he was sworn in as President in a hastily convoked ceremony in the White House cabinet room at 7:09 p.m. Truman relates: "I was told nothing in detail until the next day when Jimmy Byrnes (James F. Byrnes, of South Carolina, who was named secretary of state in Truman’s first cabinet nomination) who until shortly before had been director of war mobilization for President Roosevelt, came to see me. "Even he told me few details; though, with great solemnity, he told me we were perfecting an explosive enough to destroy the whole world. "It was later, when Vannevar Bush, head of the office of scientific research and development, came to the White House, that I

Decatur, Indiana, Thursday, September 22, 1955.

wap gvien a scientist’s version of the atomic bomb.’’ Dr. Bush was head of the scientific group that developed the atomic bomb under the then military controlled "Manhattan Project.” Truman relates that his chief of staff, Fleet Admiral William D. Leahy, was present when Bush "told me this astonishing fact,” and described ly-ahy’s reaction: " That is the biggest fool thing we have ever done,’ he observed in his sturdy, salty manner. " ‘The bomb will never go off, and 1 speak as an expert in explosives'.” As Truman was also to learn, the cold war with Soviet Russia had already begun even before he became president. The major point of contention among the Big Three was Stalin’s refusal to carry out his agreement made at Yalta tw aet up a free, democratic government in Poland. Truman held a stormy session at the ■'White House with Soviet foreign minister V. M. Molotov, insisting the IT. S. expected the Moscow government to carry out its agreement on Poland "and not on the basis of a one way street.” The discussion became so heated that Molotov, white • faced, remarked: <"I have never been talked to like that in my life.” Truman snapped: “Carry out your agreements and you won’t get talked to like that.” Truman makes no mention of his feud with James F. Byrnes in the first portion of his memoirs. But

he does relate his reasons for asking Byrnes to serve as his secretary of state. At a White House talk, Trirman asked Byrnes to take the job after conclusion of the United Nations organization meeting in San Francisco. He said he wanted Byrnes because the existing law of succession to the presidency placed secretary of state Edward R .Stettinius next in line. Byrnes had been a leader in congress, an associate supreme court justice and had the unofficial title of "assistant president” to Roosevelt during the war. On the other hand, Stettinius had never been elected to any public office. The law has since been changed to place the speaker of the house next in line after the vice president. Truman relates that he also had a "personal” reason: "Byrnes had felt that by virtue of his record of service to the party and the country he had been the logical choice to be running mate with Franklin Roosevelt in the 1944 election. “I thought that my calling him at this time might help to balance things up.” One of the most poignant episodes in the memoirs deals with Truman’s account of how- he learned that Roosevelt was dead, and that he was the new President. Truman was in the office of house speaker Sam (Rayburn shortly before 5 p.m. on Thursday, April 12, 1945. when presidential press secretary Stephen T. Early

phoned and, in a strained voice, asked him to come to the White House immediately, and to say nothing about it. He relates: “I reached the White House about 5:25 p.m. . . . Mrs. Roosevelt, Col. John and Mrs. Anna Roosevelt Boettiger, and Mr. Early were in the room (Mrs. Roosevelt’s second floor study) as I entered, and I knew at once that something unusual had taken place. "Mrs. Roosevelt seemed calm In her characteristic, graceful dignity. She stepped forward and placed her arm gently about my shoulder. “ ’Harry,’ she said quietly, ‘the President is dead.’ “For a moment 1 could not bring myself to apeak. " Is there anything I can do for you?’ I asked at last. “I shall never forget her deeply understanding reply. “ ‘ls there anything we can do for you?’ she asked. ‘For yon are the one in trouble now’’.” BIG IMPROVEMENT New York, Aug 30 (INS) — The IT. S. Army has developed standardized, interchangeable engines and parts for tanks and wheeled transport that increase combat efficiency and will save an estimated $560,000,000 during the next ten years. Steelways publieatio of the American Iron and Steel Institute, said the new development is seen as giving the infantry about 80 percent more fire power.

Tomato Harvest Is Near End In State No General Labor Shortage On Farms INDIANAPOLIS (INS)—Tomato pickers worked today with one eye on the likelihood of frost. The Indiana employment security division’s weekly sirm labor report noted that many of the migratory workers are leaving for schools and cotton harvests, but that because of the reduction in the tomato crop volume, there is no general labor shortage. However, the Anderson IESD office reports a shortage of tomato pickers is expected in the area later this week. New Castle also sent out an SOS for 10 and Lafayette asked for 50 pickers at once. Fort Wayne reported light frost last week had done no apparent damage. Many of the offices noted that tomato picking will continue for another two weeks "barring frost.” Dry weather was the principal culprit in reducing the size and yield of tomatoes. The effects were spotty over the state, with some areas reporting good quality crops, and others saying the crop is small and ripening uneven. Marion, Muncie, New Castle and Peru all said the tomato crops in their areas were of good quality. Peru reported the best pickle harvest in five years, and South Bend area predicts a bumper crop bf onions and potatoes. Vincennes reported the area apple crop is light and the market good. * length of the U.S.-Mexican boundary is 2,013 miles.

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Washington — When the Japanese occupied southeast Asia in World War 11. they effectually cut off an estimated 90 percent of the world supply of natural rubber,-

SECTION TWO

Coal generates almost halt of the nation’s electricity. Pitcairn island has an area of about 1,200 acres.