Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-03-02

lIley pursue!
AS to the Frank r. Kent
first, there is little room for doubt
Conceding the desirability of having
a Republican Senator as a member
Senator Vandenberg was the logical
and almost inevitable, choice, made
so by his recent utterances on in
ternational cooperation and his
generally acknowledged soundness
in matters of foreign policy.
Concerning Mr.. Stassen, his Sc
lection was not so simple. AS Mr.
Krock of the New York Times has
pointed out, to reach Mr.. Stassen
Mr.. Roosevelt had to pass over the
only living eX-President, Mr.. Hoover
and the titular leader of the Re-
publican party, Gov. Dewey.
This is said not in disparagement
of Mr.. Stassen, whose character and
equipment are generally recognized
but solely because it happens to be
the fact.
Personal Grudge Seen.
The passing over of Mr. Hoover
and Gov. Dewey was not only dello-
crate but clearly for personal rea-
sons. It had to be for personal
reasons. for between Mr.. Roosevelt
and the MeSsrs. Hoover and Dewey
there exists no difference on any
basic point affecting American plans
for a postwar collective security
organization or on foreign policy
generally.
Gov. Dewey's declarations in the
campaign and his Endorsement OF
the Dumbarton Oaks agreement
were clear cut and unequivocal. AS
for Mr.. Hoover, he was an advocate
of the Dumbarton Oaks principles
long before the President. Three
years ago these principles were laid
down in the book which Mr.. Hoover
wrote in collaboration with Mr..
Hugh Gibson.
Also Mr.. Hoover was supporter
of the League of Nations, which
Mr.. Roosevelt signally failed to
support in the 1924 Democratic con-
vention and practically repudiated
in 1882 when he was candidate
seeking Hearst support.
So there could have been no
reasons of policy for failure to
name Mr., Hoover or Mr.. Dewey.
It had to be for personal reasons
and those are well known.
Mr.. Roosevelt has real hate OF
Mr.. Hoover, dating from 1882, in
creased by the latter's consistent
criticism of his New Deal policies
and accentuated by the belief that
Mr.. Hoover has contempt for his
mental processes.
Gov. Dewey earned the preSiden-
tial enmity in the last campaign by
repeated declaration that the first
thing people now wanted to know
when the White House spoke was
not is it important but is it true.
The President is known to harbor
personal grudges. Time and again
he has shown his inability to rise
above them This is merely the
latest demonstration.
From the party standpoint both
Mr.. Hoover and Mr.. Dewey ranked
above Comdr. Stassen. Either would
have been the more natural selec-
ton. Both were passed over for Mr..
Stassen, not, as has been suggested,
because Mr.. Roosevelt wants to
build him up for the Republican
1e48 nomination, but because he
was the best alternative to Mr..
Hoover or Mr. Dewey.
None Of this reflects upon Mr..
Stassen, whose motives in accept
ing appointment are above ques-
ton and whose views likewise are
fundamentally in accord with Dunn
barton Oaks. Nevertheless, that IS
how he came to be chosen.
Tos Garry Great Weight.
Concerning the course to be pur-
sued by Senator Vandenberg and
Mr.. Stassen, there are those who
think that they are likely to domi-
nate the delegation.
This notion is based on the be-
lief that not only are they the two
most forceful members but that
their wholehearted support of the
San Francisco outcome is vital to
the ratification of the treaty by
the Senate. Hence, it is felt that
their views will receive every con-
sideration and carry great weight.
Fortunately, their views are large
ly in accord with the Dumbarton
Oaks agreement and on no basic
point is there much chance of a
clash. Certainly none is anticipated.
However, there are important de-
tails upon which wide divergence
is possible And on these Senator
Vandenberg and Mr.. Stassen be-
lieve they should have complete
freedom of action
Not that either has any thought
of partisan politics in this bust
ness but neither have they any de-
sire to seem a White House rubber
stamp. Neither has the least notion
of making trouble, but they do
want to know what it is all about
and, their friends say, intend to
find out.
Naturally, the delegates will con-
fer with Mr.. Roosevelt, and it is
expected he will reveal to them in
side facts of the Yalta Conference
of which the American people know
nothing. With this information the
delegation will hold its conferences
and it is in these conferences that
the Messrs. Vandenberg and Stassen