RUSSIA: Last of the Three

In Paris last week a French writer touched off a political prediction that went fizzing fiercely around the world. The writer: Yves Delbars, specialist in Russian affairs for the conservative Paris Presse. The prediction: Generalissimo Joseph Stalin, ill with an old liver ailment aggravated by fatigue, will retire from "all active and direct participation" in the Soviet Government this winter.

There was practically no supporting testimony. But the world was interested. Of the Big Three who had won the war, one was dead, one deposed. Only Stalin stayed on the stage.

The Lively Invalid. Recent Russian propaganda pictures have begun to show the Generalissimo's grey hair. In any event, a redistribution of Stalin's manifold functions may soon be in order. Even the man of steel might want a rest now that the war emergency was past. In Potsdam photographs, his familiar figure looked out of place next to homey President Truman and Prime Minister Attlee.

Some U.S. officials at Potsdam thought that Stalin tired easily, looked far from well. Others at Potsdam said, with equal certainty, that Stalin looked alert, active, somewhat younger than his age. Moscow reports last week had him laughing heartily, talking animatedly, doodling enthusiastically between translations. Visiting U.S. Congressmen said he was in fine fettle. Russians quizzed on his health said only: "Stalin is a Georgian. Georgians live forever."

Joseph Stalin is 65.