Atlanta Daily World

Ike Voiced Great Hope During Hospital Talk

BY JAMES LEE

WASHINGTON - (INS)- President Eisenhower voiced "great hope" during a hospital room talk with West German Chancellor Konrad Adenauer that Russia will act to "promote the liberation of 17 million Germans now held under Soviet communist rule."

The Chief Executive, now taking nourishment regularly by mouth and making new strides in his recovery, was described by the 80-year-old Adenauer as being in "excellent shape" and Secretary of State John Foster Dulles was even more enthusiastic.

Dulles, who escorted Adenauer to the conference at Walter Reed Hospital, called the President's spirit and demeanor only five days after undergoing major abdominal surgery "almost miraculous."

The cabinet member told newsmen: "The President expressed great hope that action could be taken which would promote the liberation of 17 million Germans now held under Soviet Communist rule and the unification of Germany."

Adenauer, who left Washington for New York City shortly after his dramatic chat with Mr. Eisenhower, declared he was "very satisfied" with the results of his two-day Washington mission, adding: "My visit with the President was the high point of my stay."

Meanwhile, Presidential news secretary James C. Hagerty flatly ruled out any questions about the President's second-term plans, though leading Republicans said they are fully convinced that Mr. Eisenhower will run.

Hagerty said: "I have no intentions of submitting political questions to the President while he is in hospital."

The President's doctors declared that the brief but intensive conference with Adenauer and Dulles - for which Mr. Eisenhower sat in an easy chair - had in no way altered the rapid pace of his recovery.

An afternoon medical bulletin said: "The President's condition continues to progress satisfactorily. His temperature, blood pressure, pulse and respiration are stable and continue essentially normal.

"This morning the President was permitted to get out of bed and sit in an easy chair during the visit of the Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany.

"There was no untoward physical reaction from the visit.

"The President will have periodically throughout the day small amounts of liquid by mouth supplemented by intravenous feeding."