Evening star., 1943-09-27
Siettinius Shift Seen
As Step 10 Strengthen
u. S.-Soyiet Relations
Appointment to WelIes'
Post Is AppIouded in
Congressional Circles

Edward r. Stettinius, jr., a
former chairman of the United
States Steel Corp. and long a
highly-regarded administration
adviser, today moved into the
No. 2 spot in the State Depart
ment under circumstances that
were regarded as presaging a
firm approach to difficult inter-
national parleys ahead.
President Roosevelt's appoint
ment of the 42-year-old lease-lend
administrator as Undersecretary of
State, and his simultaneous re-
shuff1ing of the foreign economic
and relief set-ups, Saturday night,
were expected to be beneficial on
two counts. The shift of Mr..
Stettinius, who succeeds Sumner
Welles, was designed to bring an
official into the State Department
who is satisfactory to Secretary
Hull, and can be expected to work
in harmony with the State De-
partment chief. The revamping
Of the foreign economic-relief or
ganization should provide for more
effective coordination of the Ma
tons widely-scattered operations
in this field.
The Stettinius appointment was
well received on Capitol Hill where
the 42-year-old industrialist has
come to be we'll liked and respected,
despite his big business" back
ground.
Believed Welcome to Moscow.
Equally important, from the
standpoint of the Forthcoming tri-
partite talks among Britain, Rus
sia and the United States, his Sc
lection is almost bound to be well
coined in Moscow, where he is
known as the man who dispatched
arms, food and other lease-lend
supplies for the Soviet troops.
Coupled with the possible appoint
ment of w. Averell Hartman, lease
lend expediter in London, as the new
sia, the Stettinius choice is regarded
as likely to offset any Soviet disap-
pointment over the retirement of
Mr., Welles.
The latter had been looked on by
the Russians as one of their staunch-
est friends in the State Department.
His resignation was announced with
sincere regret" by President Roose-
velt in statement which gave Mrs.
Welles' health as the reason. How
ever, there had been reports for some
time of fundamental differences be-
tween the Undersecretary and Sec
retary Hull.
Hailed in London.
There was no immediate reaction
from the Russian capital, but the
Associated Press reported from Lon
don today that the Times there said
editorially that, while Mr.. Welles'
resignation would be great loss
to the State Department, the choice
of his successor could hardly be i'm
proved on.
Mr.. Stettinius, the Times said, "has
business capacity, he possesses
qualities of political Imagination, in
sight and tact in handling delicate
situations which will prove invalua-
BILE in his new position"
THE appointment of Mr.. Stettinius,
Who had not figured prominently in
speculation over a possible successor
to Mr.. Welles, was announced with
such suddenness that he had to
cancel, plans for attending a ship
launching in San Francisco and fly
back to Washington.
Nav Go to Moscow.
It is probable that he and Mr..
Hartman will accompany Secretary
Hull, who Is expected to go to Moscow
next month for meeting with the
British and Russian Foreign Minis
ters, preliminary to a Roosevelt
Stalin- Churchill conference. Mr..
Stettinius, who has been to Moscow
before in connection with lease-lend
operations, is expected to apply his
practical and realistic business expe-
rience to his new post.
Mr.. Roosevelt said his business
experience admirably fitted him for
the job.
In reshaping the economic and
relief setup, the President created
the Foreign Economic Administra-
ton, under Leo T. Crowley, which
will take over lease-lend, the Office
of Economic Warfare, which Mr..
Crowley previously has headed; the
Office of Foreign Economic Co.
ordination, State Department unit
directed by Assistant Secretary Dean
Acheson,. and the Office of Foreign
Relief and Rehabilitation Opera
tions which was under former Gov.
Herbert H. Lehman of New York.
Lehman Presidential Aide.
Mr.. Lehman concurrently was ap-
pointed a special presidential as
sistant to complete plans for next
months organization meeting of the
United Nations Relief and Rehabili-
tation Administration. He has been
mentioned as the likely director of
this organization.
The creation of the Foreign Eco
nomic Administration to tie to-
gether all foreign economic and re-
lief activities, was not unexpected
but there had been reports that it
would be under the State Depart
ment. Instead, the agency will be
subject to the department only so
far as political policies are con-
cerned.
Mr.. Crowley moves up from DEW
still in the midst of reorganization
to clear up the snarls hanging over
from the acrimonious dispute be-
tween Vice President Henry Wal
lace, head of the old Board of Eco
nomic Warfare. and Secretary OF
Commerce Jesse Jones, whose Re-
construction Finance Corp. was
BEW's banker.
Mr.. Crowley told newsmen YES
terday he was informed of the new
setup only Saturday night and that
1t is too early for him to discuss
specific plans.
Will Avoid Overlapping.
He said however his nrineina