Evening star., 1945-09-24
Acheson Reply
ToWherryCites
Policy Report
Senator Calls Answer
Unsatisfactory; Will
Fight Nomination
BY GARNETT d. HORNER.

AAStA2A6 oSSACtoly VI oCdCC AClls
eson today challenged a Senate
critic to test for himself, in the
light of official pronounce
ments of the Government" the
correctness Of what he said last
week about policy toward Japan
and Gen. MacArthur's role in it.
Mr.. Acheson's terse reply to a
series of questions from Senator
Wherry of Nebraska, the Repub-
lican whip, who helped block action
on the nomination of Mr.. Acheson
as Undersecretary of State last
Thursday, was made public shortly
before the Senate was due to take
up the nomination again this after
noon.
Senator Wherry Immediately
termed the reply unsatisfactory"
and announced he would fight to
return Mr. Acheson's nomination
to the committee.
Later Senator Wherry contended
Gen. Macarthur was being made
the victim of smear campaign.
President Truman told reporters
last night, however, he was conf
dent Mr.. Acheson would be con.
flrmed. Senate Majority Leader
Barkley echoed this view.
M n~fo;Iad Ane,yn.
Mr. Acheson did not make any
detailed answer to the dozen ques-
tions propounded in letter to him
by Senator Wherry Saturday. In
stead, he rested his case on a COM
parison he invited the Senator to
make between his statement and Of
fetal policy documents.
The questions grew out of contro-
versy over what Mr. Acheson told a
news conference last Wednesday
when he was asked for comment on
Gen. MacArthur's prediction that
the occupation forces in Japan could
be cut to 100000 men within six
months.
At that time. Mr. Acheson said
the military aspects of Gen. Mac
Arthur's statement were not his
concern; but that the important
thing" is that policy in regard to
japan is unchanged, and the ''occu-
patton forces are the instruments of
policy and not the determinants of
policy" He added that whatever
it takes will be used to carry out
this policy, and said he was sur
prlsed" that any one could foresee
now what forces would be neces-
sary.
Charge Macarthur Insulted.
Senators Wherry and Chandler,
Democrat. of Kentucky charged
Mr.. Acheson had ''insulted" Gen.
Macarthur. and insisted action on
his nomination be held up pending
Qualification of the issue.
The text of Mr.. Acheson's letter
follows:
My Dear Senator Wherry:
1T is plain to me from your let.
ter OF September 81 that you have
not had before you the statement
which made in response to ques-
ton from the press. I inclose the
stenographic transcript of both
question and answer. I also in
close copy of the Potsdam Proc
lamation, calling your attention
specifically to paragraphs num-
bered and II, and the statement
of general policy relating to Japan
which has been released by the
White House.
With the documents before YOU,
you will have the exact text of my
answer and also the official pro-
nouncements of the Government on
the same subject with which to
test the correctness of my state
ment.
Sincerely yours,
DEAN ACHEsON."
One of the questions asked by
Senator Wherry was:
rs Gen. Macarthur acting as a
representative only of the United
States Government or of the Allied
governments as we'll in implements
ing the terms of the Potsdam agree.
ment?"
The policy directive released-Satur-
day night-which went to Gen.
Macarthur on August 29-states
that the occupation shall be "in
behalf of the principal Allied pow
ers," but that "the policies of the
United States will govern" if the
Allies should disagree on treat
ment Of Japan
Senator Wherry also asked
whether statement that "the
United States Government, not the
occupation forces under Gen. Mac
Arthur, is determining American
policy toward Japan" reflected Mr..
Acheson's view.
Has All Necessary Powers.
The policy statement released by
the White House said that as SUI
preme commander, Gen. Macarthur
has all powers necessary to ef-
1ectuate the surrender terms and
10 carry out the policies established
Tor the conduct Of the occupation
and the control Of Japan"
Another question posed by Sena-
tor Wherry asked whether there is
any provision in the Potsdam Dec
laration 'for any one of the Allied
governments to foster social and
economic revolution in Japan?"
This query presumably arose from
Mr.. Acheson's news conference re-
mark that under American policy
"the present economic and social
system of Japan which makes for a
will to war will be changed so that
that will to war will not continue"
The White House released policy
directive instructed Gen. Macarthur
to favor" many social and economic
changes, including dissolution Of
the large industrial and banking
combinations" and "a wide distri-
button of income and of the owner
(See ACHESON, Page A-4.)
Cuhe Rn;nad N,.k