Evening star., 1945-06-28
Stettinius Promotion
Seen as Trumon Tact

SrettlnluS FrOmOtlOn
Seen as I rumun I act
Secretary of State Well Fitted for
Council Post, Says Observer
By David Laurence
President Truman has again done
the simple. obvious and tactfui thing
IN promoting Edward r. Stettinius from
the position Of Secretary of State to
the all-important post of American rep
resentative on the Security Council OF
the new League Of Nations.
Mr.. /Stettinius is the very man to
head the American delegation fSt only
because Of his organizing ability but
because he now has the experience
needed to steer Americas course in a
continuing international organization.
Many another name might have been
suggested for the position. There are
several persons in America who per-
haps know more about international
affairs. But in the Craftsmanship of the
American delegation to the United Ma
tions organization there is need pri-
marily OF man who knows how to
submerge his own personality In the
interest of harmonious action.
No one need fear that Mr.. Stettinius
will follow an opinionated course. He
is not that kind of public servant. If
anything, he leans backward in seeking
the a6vice and c,1ooocfiov,c of l,;~
leagues. He impressed the members OF
the American delegation of both parties
as being essentially fair and conscien-
tious and as not self-seeking sort who
would try to impress others with his
particular talents. He is exactly the
kind Of chairman needed at the outset
Of our venture into the new world Or
ganization.
Others to Be Named.
In all probability the President will
name members of the Senate and House
to serve on the American delegation
and not only attend big conferences
but advise with Mr.. Stettinius between
sessions. The fear has been expressed
from time to time in the past that one
man would sit in the Security Council
for the United States and might commit
us to policies the people back home or
the Congress might not approve. There
Is not the slightest ground for such a
fear where Mr.. Stettinius is concerned.
He will never cast his ballot on any vital
matter without consulting the President
and, If necessary, the Foreign Affairs
Committees of the House and Senate.
1t was thoughtful of Mr.. Truman to
write the letter he did about Secretary
Stettinius. The country might not have
understood the resignation alone but 1t
cannot fail now to understand the i'm
portance OF the post of chairman OF
the American delegation to the new
league.
1t has been foregone conclusion that
Mr.. Stettinius could not remain as Sec
| retary Of State in the Truman cabinet.
1t is not his fault that he does not fit
into the congressional situation. There
are countless matters involving foreign
| policy in which the closest collaboration
between the executive branches of the
Government will become necessary. As
! logical as Mr.. Stettinius is for the
Craftsmanship of our delegation in the
| United Nations, SO is James F. Byrnes
the logical choice for Secretary of State.
Mr.. Byrnes is highly regarded on Capitol
Hill and is personally appraised by
President Truman as the most capable
and valuable man in public life.
Little Doubt on Byrnes.
The President did not want to make
the announcement of successor in the
State Department on the same day
that he was proclaiming the appoint
ment of Mr.. Stettinius to new post.
But it has been obvious ever since the
President announced that Mr.. Byrnes
was going to the next Big Three meet
| ing that the former Senator and former
| Supreme Court Justice would be the
Secretary of State. Now that Mr.. Stet-
tinius is detained in Washington to help
with the Senate ratification of the
San Francisco Charter and Mr..
Byrnes is the only prominent adviser
going along to Berlin on the civilian
side, there remains little doubt who is
going to be revealed next week as the
new Secretary of State.
Most Presidents like to have men in
their cabinet whose personal equation
they know and with whom they have
been on terms of official intimacy. Mr.
Truman, as Senator, went to the Chi
cago convention of the Democratic par.
ty last summer prepared to make the
speech nominating Mr.. Byrnes for the
vice presidency and was prevented
only by Mr.. Byrnes' withdrawal. That's
what he thinks of James r. Byrnes. 1t
will be no surprise, therefore, to see the
South Carolina statesman named Sec
retary of State. And Capitol Hill and
the country will applaud.
| lReproduction RiHhts Reseryedl