I
'ritical Rivers
G apital A Jovial .
Shanghai City
Ruled by Guns
kAl
Clay Declares
Of Northwest
Continue Rise
Kootenai Leveling
Off Columbia Under
Forecast Height
Berlin Blockade
Lilting Success
Refutes Soviet Charges
And Says Good Fait!?
On Both Sides
61st Year, No. 114 ZS?jrZZ Salem, Oregon, Friday, May 13, 1949
(18 Pages)
Price Sc HHU ICUUm...
(Bf ttu AuocUte Pr)
Water in several of the North
west'! "critical" rivers contin
ued to rise today, but at a slow
er pace than yesterday.
At Bonners Ferry, Idaho, the
Kootenai river which had been
rising at the rate of three and
one-half feet a day, began lev
eling olf in the early morning
hours. Its upward push between
8 and 9 a.m. was only one half
inch to 27.5 feet. Flood stage is
31 feet.
At Portland, river forecast
er Elmer Fisher said the Snake
and middle Columbia rivers
were a shade under forecast
levels today. He predicts they
will continue to rise moderately
through Monday.
Snow Pack Diminishes
Spokane Weatherman Robert
McComb attributed part of the
decrease to the spreading out of
the water as it reached higher
levels and part to a diminishing
snow pack in the mountains.
The weather of the next three
days may determine whether or
not the Kootenai waters will
invade some 30,000 acres of rich
farmland near Bonners Ferry,
he said. Cooler weather would
help decrease the flow. Some
rain Is forecast for the next few
days, but probably not enough
to affect river levels, he said.
Dike repair crews working
around the clock at Bonners
Ferry expected 160 army engin
eers and heavy equipment from
Seattle before noon today to
help them.
Valley Floor Threatened
Col. L. H. Hewitt, district en
gineer, arrived last night and
made an inspection of the dikes.
Farms on the valley floor
were not seriously threatened.
The flood of 1948 ripped huge
holes in the dikes and workers
are struggling to strengthen
patches and bring the levees to
a safe height.
(Concluded en Pace 5, Column f)
Bids for Clearing
Detroit Project
Col. O. E. Walsh, Portland
district engineer, announces that
his office will invite bids about
May 18 for the clearing of three
areas in the Detroit project, to
taling 980 acres above the dam
lite on the North Santiam.
The location is about 15 miles
east of Mill City, starting 1300
feet southeast of the axis of the
dam and extending upriver about
2K miles.
Estimated quantities tor Part
A are one job of clearing 185
acres, and cutting and stockpil
ing: 150,000 board feet of merch
antable timber; for Part B, one
job of clearing 175 acres and
cutting and stockpiling 150,000
feet of merchantable timber; and
Part C, one job of clearing 220
acres and cutting and stockpiling
250.000 feet of merchantable
timber.
The prospective bid opening
date is June 21 at 2 p. m., and
completion time for the work
will be 300 days. The work will
be awarded separately by parts
or as a whole to one bidder,
whichever is most acceptable to
the government.
On May 27 at 2 p. m. bids will
be opened for clearing, logging
and stockpiling an initial 175
acres o f merchantable timber
within the Detroit dam reser
voir arc. This job is divided
int two parts, 43 and 140 acres,
ana contains 250,000 and 930,000
, board feet of merchantable tim
ber.
Salem Hangar
Gets Approval
Representative Walter Nor-
blad shortly afternoon Friday
' notified the Capital Journal that
the house armed services com
mittee had today given its ap
proval to the navy's leasing of
the hangar at McNary field
for use for the Salem Naval Air
facility.
The navy department last
month put its final stamp of ap
proval on the leasing of that
area from the city of Salem and
then forwarded the lease to the
house committee.
The hangar, located on the
east side of McNary field, al
ready has been taken over by
the navy and work on renovat
ing the structure started. Part
of the interior has been painted
and some equipment brought
here from the Seattle Naval Air
Station.
Officer in command ol the
Salem Naval Air Facility is
Lt. Cmdr. Wallace Hug, who
has with him a group of station
keeper, many of whom are lo-
f ml men. returned to active du
' ty with the navy.
Fraser River to
Top Flood Stage
By Saturday
Vancouver, May 13 (CP)
Fraser valley, scene of disas
trous floods a year ago, today
prepared to protect its new sys
tem of dikes as the Fraser river
came close to flood stage.
It is expected to reach flood
stage 18 feet by tomorrow,
and dike patrols will start then
on a 24-hour basis.
A warm sun beat down on the
valley today and temperatures
were high as the mountain run
off continued to swell the turbu
lent Fraser.
Millions of dollars have been
spent to rebuild and strengthen
the dike system since last year's
floods and Fraser valley diking
board officials said there should
be no "undue alarm."
The water must rise far be
yond . the 18-foot "flood stage
minimum" before real danger
will be felt.
Dikes Generally Stronger
I'm not going to be pessimis
tic or optimistic," said Bruce
Dixon, diking - commissioner.
"The dikes are generally strong
er, but a chain is only as strong
as its weakest 2nk. There may
be weak spots in the system we
don t know of.
At Mission, 40 miles up the
valley from Vancouver, the
river gauge today read 15.95
feet. At this time last year it
was 10.83, but 10 days later the
river was in full flood.
Little change in the weather
situation is expected during the
week-end with temperatures
reaching the 80s in interior dis
tricts. Flash floods have been re
ported from the Similkameen
valley, 140 miles east of here,
and some roads and farmlands
have been flooded. The Simil
kameen and Tulameen rivers
have shown a steady rise.
Kootenay Lake Rising
At Nelson, B.C., 500 miles
east of Vancouver, the Kootenay
lake is rising eight days earlier i
than last year, and in the Prince
Rupera area, 500 miles to the1
north, the Skeena river threati;
ens to flood.' "-- 1
At Penticton, 180 miles east
of here, the Okanagan river
flowed over its banks at weak,
spots caused by last year's flood.!
Mission Creek is in flood at I
Kelowna, in the Okanagan val
ley, but the situation is not seri-l
ous. ' I
There is no reason to be
alarmed," said Mayor W. B.
Hughes-Games of Kelowna.
McKay Appoints
Potato Board
Governor Douglas McKay to
day appointed the state potato
commission, which was created
by the recent legislature.
The commission will promote
the sale of Oregon potatoes
Members of the commission
appointed are:
Floyd Stoneman, who lives in
Malheur county, but whose ad
dress is route 3, Weiser, Ida.;
S. E. Hartley, Nyssa; N. L. Wei
gand, Powell Butte; John
Brooks, Madras; Scott Warren,
Klamath Falls; Wilford J. Dix
on, Merrill; Clyde Warren, Bak
er; M. B. McKay, Troutdale; and
Robert Miller, Boardman.
Besides these members, are
two others whom the legislature
made permanent members. They
are the state director of agri
culture and the dean of the Ore
gon State college school of agriculture.
Davidson Raps Opponents
Of CVA as Exploiters
Washington, May 13 Wl Assistant Secretary of the Interior G
Girard Davidson said today a proposed Columbia valley adminis
tration is being opposed by "people who have sought to exploit
Davidson, in a speech prepared
ence. Identified the opponents of
the CVA legislation now before'
congress: j
"The private utility corpora
tions, the power lobbies XXX
operating behind front organiza
tions such as the development
associations, reclamation asso
ciations and water users protect
ive councils recently organized
in the northwest, X X X the rail
roads and the Chamber of Com
merce." Jerome G. Locke, a Helena.
Mont, engineer, urged passage
of legislation for a Missouri val
ley authority "patterned after
the highly successful and uni
versally satisfactory TV A act."
"Congress can redress four
years ol wrongs, clear up anoth
er national muddle and give the
people of Missouri valley whatjed up
they want and deserve, a lair, plans."
Terms of 2 Tax
Commissioners
Expire June 4
By JAMES D. OLSON
Terms of two members of the
state tax commission Earl L,
Fisher and Wallace S. Wharton
xpire on June 1 and tt is ex
pected that the board of control
will hold a session next week
to make a decision on what Is
to be done with the vacancies.
None of the members of the
board were willing to discuss
the subject Friday but it
known that Governor McKay
favors the retention of Commis
sioner Wharton and would be
inclined to carry Commissioner
Fisher in his present job as head
of the income tax department
for a number of months before
naming a replacement.
However, reliable sources in
dicate that the other two mem
bers of the board, Secretary of
State Earl T. Newbry and State
Treasurer Walter Pearson are.
not willing to go along with the
governor s program.
Pearson for Morgan
Some months ago, during the
legislative session. Treasurer
Pearson announced that he
would favor the appointment of
Rep Howard Morgan of Port
land to one of the jobs on the
tax commission. It was also
known that Newbry was ready
to vote for the appointment of
Rep. Robert Gile of Roseburg.
However neither of these men
are eligible lor appointments to
the commission as under a pro
vision of the state constitution
no legislator can be appointed
to a position for which a salary
increase had been voted. The
last legislature increased the
salaries of the tax commission
ers. Roberts Favored
A campaign in behalf of Car
lisle B. Roberts, assistant attor
ney general to replace Commis
sioner Fisher is in progress
Roberts has handled all tax
cases for the attorney general
office.
Wharton, who is the sole dem
ocrat on the tax commission was
appointed by the late Governor
Earl Snell while he was still
serving as an officer in the
navy.
During his tenure, Wharton,
who is in charge of the assess
ment division, has set up a pro
cedure tor county assessors to
follow in mak'-ig assessments on
real property. In addition he
has carried on a series of train
ing sessions for assessors in var
ious parts of the state.
It is because of this work that
Governor McKay favors his re
appointment, but reports are
prevalent that the other two
members of the board will offer;
a new man for the position.
Allen A. Jones, 43
Killed in Crash
Lebanon, May 13 OP) Allen
A. Jones, 43, Portland lumber
man, was killed early today in
a highway accident as he drove
along near Sweet Home.
He was here on business con
nected wtih the Western Veneer
plywood plants at Lebanon and
Sweet Home. He was secre
tary-treasurer of the firm.
Linn County Coroner Glenn
Huston said Jones apparently
went to sleep at the wheel. His
car left the highway and ran
along the edge for 380 feet be
fore striking a guard railing.
Two planks pierced the car.
Jones was thrown free, but the
car rolled on top of him, crush
ing him fatally.
for a natural resources confer
start for a real valley develop
ment, Locke said. He is chair
man of a reginal committee for
an MVA.
Anthony W. -Smith, CIO attor
ney and assistant director of the
industrial union councils, ques
tioned the scope of authority of
river development agencies and
said there are resource'problems
which can be handled only on a
national basis.
"Surely it is clear that at pres
ent the critical problem in a
number of river basins Is too
many dams under way, too bad
ly planned." Smith said
"It would bet a gain if
number of the projects now
authorized on the Missouri and
Columbus riven could be slow-
and fitted into broader
Lebanon Crown of majesty is conferred on Queen Alice
Rose by Joe Cox, student body president at the high school's
annual May Day festivities last Friday, May 6, on the high
school campus. Attending princesses, left to right are: Mary
Fenner, Norma Strange, Mary Ann Turner, Helen Jo Gil
bert, Sally Davis and Jean Carlson. Their escorts, Bob Oster
man, Dick Haughton, Wallace Campbell, Raymond Downing,
Don Baker and Don McGourty. will appear again at the
coronation o the strawberry fair queen on the morning ol
June 3. Neil Penland, crownbearer, and Carol Page, flower
girl, survey the crowning with interest. Miner studio.
Fire Guts Two Homes,
One Valley Landmark
Two serious fires occurred Friday morning south of the city.
Flames gutted the old Liberty store building, landmark
lately used as a residence, on
from the United Growers cannery.
Shortly before this fire another destroyed the roof and attic
Carrier Skipper
Shot to Death
San Francisco, May 13 VP)
Cmdr. Everett O. Rigsbee, Jr.,
skipper of the aircraft carrier
Antietan, was found shot to
death yesterday in his quarters
aboard ship at Hunter's Point
naval shipyard. His widow said
he had been "terribly overwork
ed and under great strain."
The navy Immediately sum
moned a board o! investigation
to the ship and declined, to make
a detailed statement.
Unofficial navy sources, how
ever, said there appeared to be
no foul play. The death weapon
was reported found near the
body.
Homicide inspectors from the
San Francisco police department
said a bullet from a civliian .38
caliber revolver, fired at a dis
tance of about eight inches, had
passed through Rigsbee'a head.
Rigsbee, 41, had assumed com
mand ol the vessel only ten
daya ago. He had been execu
tive officer of the 888-foot Es
sex class carrier since last July.
His widow, Mrs. Helen Rigs
bee, told newsmen:
"He hadn't had a leave of any
length for several years."
During the recent war he
commanded patrol bombing
squadron 117 and won many
decorations in the Pacific.
He leaves his widow of Ala
meda, Calif., and four children:
Barbara Jean, 18, Susan Ann,
11; Everett III, 7, and Jean
nette Elizabeth, 2.
Atomic Funds
Aid Commies
Washington, May 13 W Sen
ator Hickenlooper R.-Iowa)
threatened today to seek a
change in the law if the atomic
energy commission doesn't deny
student aid funds to communists
and fellow travelers.
Hickenlooper told a reporter
he sees "no excuse" for the
commission's contributing about
13,800 yearly toward science
studies by Hans Freistadt, ad
mitted communist doing gradu
ate work in physics at the Univ
ersity of North Carolina.
Freistadt, described by Rep.
Cole (R.-N.Y.J in the house yes
terday as a friend of John Gates,
communist under indictment in
New York, said in an interview
he became a communist after he
was naturalized as a citizen sev
era! years ago.
He was awarded an atomic
energy commission (AEC) fel
lowship for study in the field
of relativity, not involving work
of a secret nature.
"Nothing was said In the ap
plication for scholarship about
political affiliation. " Freistadt
recalled. He also said:
"I consider myself a loyal cit
izen of the United States. 1 see
no conflict between my loyally
to this country and my member
ship In the communist parly."
Canby Strawberries Ready
Portland, May 13 " The
season's first Willamette valley
strawberries were on the mar
ket here today. They came from
the Canby Berry gardrns and
sold wholesale at $4 a crate.
Liberty road across the highway
of an old-fashioned
an old-fashioned two-story
residence at 375 Fairview ave-j
nue, the blaze breaking out justjdersecretary
after 9:30 o clock.
Occupying the house on Lib
erty road was- the Wm. Meyers,
family. It is owned by Ed
Peterson. Living in the Fairview
avenue home is the Phil Thomp
son family, and Nick Casper,
830 North Summer street, is the
owner.
Considerable damage result
ed at the Thompson home from
water as the downstairs had just
Ibeen papered and painters were
compieung ineir interior wotk.
Firemen were forced to lay
a hose line for three blocks to
the nearest hydrant,, which is'
close to the American Legion
club on South Commercial.
Alarm was given by Keith
BraUier, employed at the 9BE
Hi-Way service station just south
of the Fairview intersection. He
was going between the grease
rack and the station when he
saw llames shooting through the
root
At the time of the alarm Mrs
Alice Van Blair, sister ol Mrs.
Thompson, was using a vacuum
cleaner and was not aware of
the lire until after the alarm had
been turned In.
There was no fire In the house
and cause of the blaze is not
known but because ol the point
of origin either spontaneous
combustion, because of the ex
treme warmth of the last two
days, or defective electric wir
ing is the conjecture.
Practically all contents of the
Meyers home were destroyed
How the fire started is not
known. An adjoining part of
the building on the north side
and fronting directly on the road
was little damaged.
The building is historic. It is
believed to be nearly 75 years
old. Besides being the farmer
location of the Liberty store it
was at one time occupied by a
restaurant.
It was partially insured.
(Picture on Page 8)
Southern Operators
To Confer with Lewis
Washingon, May 13
John L. Lewis and the southern
coal mine operators agreed to
day to begin negotiations on
new union mining contract at
Bluelield, W. V., May 25.
Joseph E. Moody, president of
the Southern Coal Producers
association, announced the
agreemen after conferences with
Lewis, head ol the United Mine
Workers.
The southern group rcpre
sents about one third ot the na
tional bituminous coal output.
The present coal mining con
tract expires June 30.
THE WEATHER
(Released by United States
Weather Bureau!
Forecast for 8a)em and Vicin
ity: Putty cloudy tonight and
Saturday. Little change In tem
perature. Lowest temperature ex
pected tonight, 61 degree; high
est Saturday. ta. Conditions mil
continue favorable for farm
work. Maximum yesterday 8s.
Minimum today &3. Mean tem
perature yesterday 73 which was
17 above normal. Total 24-hour
precipitation to 11:30 am. to
day 0. Total precipitation (or the
month 151 inches which Is M
ot an tneh above normal WVJ
Umette river height at Salem
Friday morning, ft a teet.
Pick Matthews
Navy Secretary
Washington, May 13 (IP)
Francis Patrick Matthews, Oma
ha lawyer, was named secretary
of the navy today.
The White House 'announced'
that Matthews, 82, widely known
Catholic layman, has been picked
to succeed John L. Sullivan.
Sullivan quit recently with a
blast at Secretary of Defense,
Johnson for halting work on the
navy s super aircraft carrier.
President Truman also an
nounced he is promoting Dan A.
Kimball to undersecretary of the'
navy. Kimball is now assistant
secretary. He is a Californian.
Kimball succeeds former Un-
W. John Xenney
whose resignation was an
nounced last week.
Presidential Press Secretary
Charles G. Ross said Matthews'
nomination probably would go
to the senate during the day
Presidential Press Secretary
Charles G. Ross made the an
nouncements for the president.
Later, formal nominations were
sent to the senate.
Mr Truman also nominated
Vice Adm. John L. McCrea to
be director ol the stall ol the per
sonnel policy board of the de
fense establishment.
Matthews Is a democrat and
was a member of the president's
committee on civil rights in 1048.
He Is a graduate of Creighton
university and a native of Al
bion, Neb.
Reds Denounce
Trial of Negroes
Trenton, N. J., May 13 W
The conviction ol six Negroes,
now under death sentences,
was attacked today as a "vicious
frameup" by the left-wing Civil
Rights Congress.
On the eve ot an appeal of
(he case bctoce New Jersey's
highest court, the congress is
sued a statement branding the
conviction "en attempted lynch
ing northern style."
The state supreme court Is to
head argument on the appeal
Monday.
Hurling charges of racial per
secution at Mercer county police
officials, the congress termed
the trial a "northern Scottsboro
case.
The group, listed as subver
sive by the U. S. department ot
justice, has distributed leaflets
containing these accusations in
wide campaign to "free the
Trenton six."
Controversy over the case
started last summer when the
six men were sentenced to die
in the electric chair tor the
bludgeon slaying of William
Horner, 72-year-old Trenton
shopkeeper.
"Conviction of the six Negroes
by an all-white jury was based
solely on so-catted 'confessions'
which were extorted from the
men and later repudiated by all
of them," the congress charged
Oregon Women Arriving
For Convention of BPW
Delegates and visitorf were arriving; thif atternoon lor the
28th annual convention of the
and Professional Women's clubs
the next three dayt.
Between 400 and 450 delegates.
and visitors are expected to at
tend from the 47 ciuht In the
state group.
Judge Sarah T. Hughes, Dal
(las, Texas, iirst vice president
l tor the national federation, was,
; arriving by plane at mld-atter-inoon
to attend the meeting as
(representative trom the national,
; federation.
The pre-convention state
hoard session opened at noon to
day at the Senator hotel. Mrs.
Arthur Weddle, Salem, is the
state president presiding at all
meetings.
Business sessions start Satur-
Residents More Feor
ful of Trigger Happy
Defenders Than Reds
Hong Kong, .May 13 W '
Shanghai today Is a city ruled i
by guns. I
Its nearly 6.000.000 residents i
are more teartul of their trigger-1
happy nationalist defenders than
of the Chinese communists prod-
din; at its outskirts. ,
Harsh and bloody measures
taken by the Shanghai garrison
are converting from contempt to
anger the feeling residents have
lor the men assigned to defend
that greatest Asiatic city.
Military Edict Law
Military edict, enforced by
arms, is now the law tor Shang
hai. Legal looting by soldiers
who never were distinguished
for their respect tor other peo
ple s property now goes under
the alias ol "requisitioning."
Through a tightening censor
ship the garrison decides what
Shanghai and the world will
know about the war and about
conditions in that city.
The garrison is following un
swervingly the military patterns
of Peiping, Tientsin, Suchow
and Nanking, all of which havel
fallen to the Reds. ,
With "volunteer" laborers,
the army is gouging out trench-'
es, erecting pillboxes, uprooting.
villages and burning down
houses on the outskirts ol the
city.
(Concluded on Pace 5, Column I)
UN Approves
Colony Plans
Lake Success, May 13 IIP) ,
The political committee of the
United Nations assembly ap
proved today the joint Briiisb-
Italian plan for partitioning
Italy's prewar African empire.
The approved plan assigns,
parts of the territories to Brit
ain, France, Italy and Ethiopia
either under the UN trusteeship
system or in out-right annexa
tion.
m
The vole In the
""-""'
committee was 34 to 18. Seven
abstained.
The, proposal now goes to the
full assembly in plenary session
at Flushing Meadow park for
final action. i
The only part ol the plan de
leted was a proposal to give the
western province ol Eritrea to
the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan. This,
was defeated by 19 votes against
it and 16 in lavor. Twenty-one
abstained. ,
No provision was made for
western Eritrea Immediately.
The delegates had heard Rus
sia Andrei A. uroroyxo in a
previous session acuse the Unit
ed States and Britain of making
a "deal" to keep control of stra
tegic parts of Mussolini's African
empire. '
Referendum on
Old Age Aid
A preliminary referendum pe
tition calling for the repeal of
the recently enacted old age
pension law was filed with Dav
id O'Hara, election commission
er, by Joe E. Dunne Friday.
The petition calls for place
ment of the law on the ballot at
the general election November
1950 for approval or rejection
The bill was signed by Gover
nor McKay last Monday.
Three signatures contained on
the preliminary petitions are
Carson U. Karnaugh, 838 High
land avenue, Salem: Opal L. llo-
rok, 1912 S.E. 40th avenue,
Portland and Ifenry A. Menas-
co, 1737 S.E. Umatilla avenue,
also ot Portland.
Dunne, who led the fight for
the old age bill passed by the
voters at the last November
election tsld that he expected ta
obtain the necessary 16.000 sig
natures within two or three
weeks.
Oregon Federation or Business
to be conducted In Salem lor
day morning at the First Metho
dist church, the luncheon to be
there at noon with Vice Admiral
Thomas L. Gatch of Portland as
speaker. Business session wilt
continue in the afternoon with
the formal banquet to be at 6:15
o'clock In the American Legion
club and Marion hold. A pro
gram at 8 p. m. will follow in
ne armoTy wnn juuge nugnes
as speaker.
Highlighting this evening's
program wiil be a dinner at the
Chamber of Commerce, tollow- i
ed by a fun session in the arm
ory at 8 o'clock.
Ejection of ollirers will be
Saturday afternoon.
Berlin, May 13 Gen.
Lucius D. Clay pronounced the
lifting of the German blockades
a sucess today, thus refuting
Soviet charges that the western
powers failed to live up to their
part ol the agreement.
The retiring U.S. military
governor said in a final press
conference that he was satis
fied "there was good taith on
both sides" in putting into ef
fect the lour power agreement
removing the Soviet blockade ot
Berlin and related restrictions.
Both Russia and the western
powers have kept their promises
to lift regulations aimed at
blockading each other, Clay
.said. He spoke alter the Soviets
through their official organ
here, had. acused the western
big three ot tailing to erase
complctley their counter-blockade
ol the Soviet zone.
Always Technicalities
"There .are always technicali
ties to be resolved," Clay said,
"but nothing ot a serious nature
has arisen."
Among the technicalities Ira
mentioned was the shaking
down of the present application
ol an agreement lor shipment
ot iron, coal and steel trom
western Germany to the Soviet
zone. The agreement expired
'during the blockade.
Clay refused to say whether
he believed a united Germany
would emerge trom the big tour
meeting in Paris, or whether the
loreign ministers would come to
any agreement there.
Clay emphasized that there
would be no early withdrawal
of U.S. troops trom Germany,
even though the Russians might
propose a complete evacuation
ol occupation troops at the Paris
meeting.
Russian Complaint
The Bussians accused west
ern powers today of violating
the lour-power agreement on
lilting the Berlin blockade by
failing to raise completely their
counter -blockade ol the Soviet
zone.
! "Tne agreement cannot b
lullilied on the part ot the So-
victJ sJone .. it)e oficial Bu
jsjan organ Taegliche Rundschau
said in making public the tirst
rjft bctwrcn lhe east and that
west over the four-power agree
ment.
American otticials denied the
Soviet charges. But they ac
knowledged that they had not
given in to Soviet demands tor
minimum iron, steel and coal
shipments provided for in an
agreement which expired dur
ing the blockade.
Allies Approve
West Germany
Frankfurt, Germany, May IS
The -western allies approv
ed wjh reservations last night
the new west German federal
republic's draft constitution.
Thus they gave themselves
high trump card for use in the
May 23 Paris peace talks with
Russia seeking a solution to the
entire German problem.
They are shooting lor an ulti
mate agreement uniting the So
viet zone of Germany with th
republic, and hope the constitu
tion, which guarantees a tree
government of the people, will
be the basis for settlement.
The Americans, British and
French also ordered an "occu
pation statute" or interim peaea
treaty for the western occupa
tion zones' 45,000,000 Germans,
to come into force the day the
west German government takes
office. Its terms had been an
nounced earlier this year.
Gen. Lucius D. Clay, for the
United States; Gen. Sir Brian
Kohertson, for Britain, and Lt.
Gen. Pierre Koenig, for Trance.
signed the constitution. Their
action cut away the last obsta
cle to formation of the first Ger
man civil government since tha
war.
The draft constitution now
goes to the 11 state parliament!
in western Germany lor ratifi
cation which may be completed
before the end of May.
TODAY!
On Pages M and 15
An array ol homea in Salem
that may be purchased on
convenient terms or for cash.
The picture will give you a
camareheosivc Idea of the
general appearance of the
homes and better help you to
make your srJrrtjon of the
property best suited to your
needs.
"For guaranteed value
see the
CapitalJournal