MEDFORD MAIL TRIBUNE. MEDFORD. OREGON
SUNDAY. NOVEMBER 11. 1962
Exchange Between Stevenson, Zorin Called Contents of Making History
By JACK V. FOX
United Press International
The setting: The horseshoe
shaped tahle ol the United Na
tions Security council.
The cast: Adlai Stevenson,
Va(erian Zorin and other dele
gates to the Security council.
The lime: The night of Oct.
25,1962.
Stevenson is speaking:
"'. . . Yes or no - don't wait
for the translation - yes or no'.'
It was one of those moments
of pure history in the making.
The millions of Americans
who were looking on by TV
could sense that they were
witness to a confrontation, a
drama of super-power conflict
.worth tolling the grandchil
dren about.
And for Adlai Stevenson it
was a moment of personal vin
dication. When President Kennedy in
inb'U named Stevenson 4s Am
bassador to the United Na
tions, the choice was applaud
ed around the world. The
prestige of having a two-time
candidate for the presidency
as ;Amcrica's U.N. delegate
was tremendous.
The eloquence of this "Prai
rie Ttoosevelt" was legend. He
was popular with all the non
Communist nations of the
globe - a statesman with the
reputation of liberalism, a
man of personal charm, a
speaker sure to bring wit as
well as weight to United Na
tions' deliberations.
Seldom had a man gone into
a vital post with so much in
his'favor.
Then - just 18 months ago -Stevenson's
prestige and in
fluence at the United Nations
took a blow so severe it might
I , ;l 4
CLARENCE WEAVER
West Coast Officer
Clarence Weaver
Elected District
Head ol League
Clarence Weaver, Medford,
managing director of the
Southern Oregon - Northern
California's CalOre Electri
cal league was elected district
west coast governor for 1863
during the recent convention
of the International Associa
tion of Electric Leagues in
Chicago.
Representatives of more
than 60 electrical associations
met for programming 1963
activities.
The CalOre League will
observe its fourth anniversary
soon. Weaver said. Members
of the executive board are
Vern Owens, Klamath Falls,
president; George West, Rose
burg, vice president, and divi
sion chairmen, Al Klassen,
Grants Pass, appliance; Har
old Wall, Medford. apparatus,
and Morris Leonard, Warren
Kelsoc, Frank Price, Tod
Bennett. Clint Lorber and
John Yape.
The league's original presi
dent was Dick Finch, Med
ford. Weaver said the manufac
turers who met with the i American courtroom
Croup indicated a keen desire
lo sec expanded electrical
league activity in the Pacific
Northwest comparable to the
saturation level of most areas
of California and Arizona.
The national association
will meet next in San Diego,
with the 1963 convention
scheduled in Chattanooga.
have meant the end of service
there, had he been a weaker
man.
The crisis then - as now -was
over Cuba. The setting
was the same: The Security
council. The date was April
17, 1961, and, on that dawn,
Cuban refugees had invaded
the Bay of Pigs.
But the immediate subject
of debate was the bombing of
military installations in Cuba
on April 19 by three planes
which struck in the night.
Stevenson held up high a
photograph of one of the B26
bombers. It had been taken
after the plane landed at Mi
ami International airport. It
bore the markings of the Cu
ban Air force.
There, said Stevenson, was
the proof that these were
planes flown by Cuban Air
force pilots defecting from
Fidel Castro.
He was as wrong as a man
could be. Innocently wrong,
but wrong nonetheless.
For, in the chaos rampant
in Washington at the time, the
administration had neglected
to inform their Ambassador to
the Uniled Nations' of the true
American involvement in the
invasion.
The planes were, in fact,
painted with the Cuban insig
nia - with the assistance of
the U.S. Central Intelligence
agency - and tlown irom i,ann
American bases by Luoan
rebel pilots.
Vulnerable Position
Stevenson was furious at
having been left in such a
vulnerable position. The Rus
sians lost no time in depicting
him as deliberately deceitful;
the lesser implication being
that he did not have access
lo the higher councils of the
American government.
It hurt. It must have hurt as
much or more than on that
night in November, 1956,
when he lost the presidency
for a second time and remark
ed, in paraphrase of Abraham
Lincoln, "It hurts too much to
laugh, but I'm too old to cry."
Stevenson kept his silence
about the affair in public. But
he had lost stature at the
United Nations and he knew it.
Sardonic Zorin
Last month, with the U.N.
again tense with anxiety
about the American naval
blockade of Cuba, the Soviet
and Cuban delegates taunted
him with the memory of his
ill-fated "proof" of the na
tionality of the bombers in the
Bay of Pigs fiasco.
Here he was again - the
night of Oct. 25 - back with
more pictures, this time of
Soviet nuclear rockets in Cu
ba. The smooth, sardonic Zorin
spoke first. The United States,
he said, claimed it had proof
of the existence of missile
bases in Cuba.
"The government of the
United States." he said, "has
no such facts in its hands ex
cept the falsified information
of the U.S. Intelligence agency
which are being displayed for
review in halls and which are
sent to the press.
"Falsity is what the United
States has in its hands, false
evidence."
At that moment Zorin open
ed the door for Stevenson. He
became suddenly and dramat
ically the Ambassador for the
prosecution.
Exchange Occurs
Here was the exchange
that then occurred before fas
cinated ring of U.N. delegates
and before the American pub
lic: Stevenson - "All right, sir,
let me ask you one simple
question: Do you. Ambassador
i Zorin. deny that the U.S.S.R.
has placed and is placing me
dium and intermediate range
missiles and sites in Cuba?
Yes or no - don't wail for the
translation - yes or no?"
Zorin - "I am not in an
sir, and
therefore I do not wish to
answer a question that is put
to me in the fashion in which
a prosecutor puts questions.
In due course, sir, you will
have your reply."
(Nervous laughter).
Stevenson - "You arc in the
courtroom of world opinion
' right now, and you can answer
yes or no. You have denied
that they exist. I want to
know whether 1 have under
stood you correctly."
Zorin (as temporary council due course. ' your decision
chairman) - "Will you please ' Stevenson - "I am prepared ; (Again laughter
continue your statement, sir? to wait for my answer until
You will have your answer in ' hell freezes over, if that is
humor but crisis. Zorin stared wait long. Two days later,
It was the ! straight ahead, a sheepish j Premier Khrushchev cabled
sort of reaction lo a tense smile on his face). Kennedy mat tne soviet
situation that represented not i Stevenson did not have to Union was prepared to dis
mantle its missile sites in Cu
ba, crate the equipment and
ship it back to Russia.
The next day Zorin learned
he would have the "assist
ance" of another Soviet diplo
mat who would concentrate
on Cuban affairs.
ideas ?o
monogrammed
writing papers
book matches
paper napkins
Order Early
217 Eat Main
face
rMm
Dress Up Your Home...
Shop Mead for Sifts...
WEEKS
and
onn's
Fun to decorate ---for yourself or as gifts!
Unfinished Furniture
Chests of Drawers
All sizes from 24" 3-drawer chests to 60"
12-drawer chests. Choose the exact size
to suit your space and needs . . . finish to
suit your decor!
$1250t$
Desks
7-Drawer
Kneehole
23" x 48"
Large Size
00
$335
Twin or
full size
BOOKCASE HEADBOARDS
NITE STANDS $650
CORNER CHINA CABINET
Glass Doors, 28x42 size. Sanded
and ready to finish. All wood, no
cardboard. Decorate to suit your taste
42
OVAL
Good selection sizes and colors, priced SO LOW!
Make your choice early while stocks are complete.
2 Ft. by 3 Ft. $2,95
3 Ft. by 5 Ft $6.50
4 Ft. by 6 Fl. .... $9.95
6 Ft. by 9 Fl. $24.50
8 Ft. by 10 Ft. $39,50
9 Ft. by 12 Ft. $4-9.50
10 Ft. by 14 Ft. . $65.00
11 Ft. by 15 Ft... $79.50
BOOK SHELVES 30" x 36" only 975
Select now for Gifts -- plenty time to finish for Christmas.
A small deposit will hold.
ODDS & ENDS!
MATTRESSES
and
BOX SPRINGS
At SPECIAL PRICES!
Full and Twin Sizes
S
1 T PSrffW
AJVfc MAI- 'V I VrJ
tSSSSSSf open
NITES!
Come in
See our
Large
Bedroom
Dept.
Good selection of styles, sizes and
finishes, 2, 3 and 4 piece sets in wal-
ut, maple, mahogany and cherry.
SPECIAL!
2 Pc. Set - Book Case Headboard,
6 Drawer Dresser with Tilting
Bevel Edge Mirror. Choice of
Walnut or Blond. ONLY
4 Drawer Matching Chest .... $3950
BOX SPRINGS
Prices start at
MATTRESSES
Prices start at
EASY TERMS, TOO
No carrying charges or interest. We carry our own con
tracts. AT WEEKS & ORR you pay only for the merchan
dise. Shop and save at Southern Oregon's oldest and
largest Furniture Store.
Sealy Redi-Bed Sofas
Us. in den, family room or
living room. Perfect for tho$.
expected (and unexpected)
! guesti. Complete with Health
n 'aB ' 'y jjj
114 West Main St. Phone 772-9351
Guard Mattrestl
Shop All 3 Floor