Evening star., 1940-12-02
Roosevelt Expected
To Delay Choice Of
Kennedy's Successor
Retiring Envoy Moy Stoy
In U.S.. Service, Possibly
In Key Defense Post
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
The resignation of Joseph P. Ken
nedy, Ambassador to Great Britain,
made fresh gap today in the war
depleted ranks of United States
Ambassadors to European nations.
Mr.. Kennedy announced that he
was relinquishing the London post
after White House conference with
President Roosevelt yesterday.
Pending appointment of success
sor-a choice likely to be delayed
Mr.. Kennedy said Mr.. Roosevelt
desired him to keep his designation
as Ambassador, but the envoy made
plain he would not return to Eng
land in that capacity.
No Disagreement.
At a press conference this morn
ing Stephen T. Early. secretary to
the President, took occasion to em-
phasize there had been do disagree
ment whatever between Mr.. Roose-
velt and Mr.. Kennedy. Mr.. Early
added that Mr.. Roosevelt had had
"a very pleasant and very agreeable
chat with Joe" yesterday.
Asked whether another Govern
ment job was in prospect for Ken
nedy, Mr.. Early replied:
II don't see anything like that
In the picture right now"
AS for his future, the retiring
Ambassador spoke only in general
terms in his statement announcing
the resignation.
My plan is, after short holi-
day." he said ito devote my efforts
to what seems to me the greatest
cause in the world today, and means,
If successful, the preservation Of the
American form of democracy. That
cause is to help the President keep
the United States out of war"
May Continue in Service.
This language apparently did not
rule out the possibility that Mr..
Kennedy might continue in Govern
ment service in some key defense
post, perhaps as chairman of the
National Defense Commission. Some
quarters, however, believed he would
devote most of his time to speak
ing and writing in behalf of his
frequently expressed belief that this
country under no circumstances
should become embroiled in the war.
or tot q
Department today to say farewell
to officials there before leaving by
airplane for a vacation in Florida.
He explained that he now was off
the Government pay roll even
though temporarily retaining the
title of Ambassador to Great
Britain.
Mr.. Kennedy's resignation, which
had been in the Presidents hands
since November 6, predated by a
single day that of William c. Bull
litt as Ambassador to France. John
Cudahy resigned last Thursday as
Ambassador to Belgium.
At present the United States has
only two Ambassadors at their posts
in Europe, Laurence A Steinhardt
in Soviet Russia and Alexander
weddeu in Spain.
Mr.. Kennedy's resignation did not
come as a surprise for it was pre-
ceded by a number of such reports
which the State Department re-
fused TO confirm.
That choice of a successor might
be delayed for some time was in
dicated by Mr.. Kennedy's statement
that Mr.. Roosevelt was not yet pre-
pared to make a decision
From time to time, several names
have been mentioned for the post
in the event that Mr.. Kennedy
stepped out. Among those spoken
OF were Marshall Field, Chicago
merchant, who has been active in
the work of bringing British child
refugees here; John G. Winant,
former Governor of New Hampshire
and one-time Social Security head,
who is now a director of the Inter-
national Labor Office; Ray Ather-
ton, career diplomat, now acting
chief Of the European Division of
the State Department and former
counsellor at the London Embassy,
and former Ambassador Bullitt.
Questioned recently about Mr..
Field, Mr.. Bullitt and Mr.. Atherton,
Mr.. Roosevelt said reports they
were being considered were new
ones to him. Speculation involving
Mr.. Winant revived last week when
he conferred at the White House.
Now so years old, Mr.. Kennedy
Is a Boston flnancier who has been
major figure in the Admins
tration since 1884. In that year
President Roosevelt drafted him
to head the new Securities and Ex-
change Commission.
His ability as an administrator
30 impressed Mr.. Roosevelt that
when the Maritime Commission
was organized and given the job
of revitalizing the merchant marine
the Chief Executive called on Mr..
Kennedy to take the Craftsmanship.
He held this post until he was
appointed Ambassador to Great
Britain.