The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1945-07-02
Solves A Problem
BY ARTHUR. xROCK


tenure President Truman has acted and
spoken to the obvious satisfa ction of the public
and his official colleagues on manv occasions
But there seemed to be general agreement
here today that never had he dealt so ably
and sensitively with difficult problem than
in the case of the holdover Secretary of State
Mr.. Stettinius.
1t was inevitable that the President would
want Secretary of his own selection. This
officer is the Premier of the Cabinet and
under present laws, first in the line of sue
cession to the Presidency when, as now, there
is no Vice President. To the Secretary of State
also, President with limited experience IN
foreign affairs must look for the guidance
that comes from long legal and political train
ing and such a President is Mr. Truman
If he can discover in his potential successor
man of high party standing in addition to
these qualities, he better afford to dis
pense with training in the field of foreign
affairs than with the other requirements "a
choice the President will make if he appoints
James F. Byrnes).
For these reasons it was clear that Mr.
Truman would name a new Secretary at an
opportune tine And the feeling here is that
ne could have chosen none more opportune
than the moment when Mr.. Stettnius had con-
his labors to produce the Charter of the United
Nations Organization. That moment closed a
historic epoch, in which the retiring Secretary
played one of the high principal roles. 1t also
opened the epoch in which the United Nations
will proceed to ratify the Charter and the
President for the first time will take his place
in conference as member of the Big Three
to consider solutions of the grave immediate
problems that confront the world.
Since Mr. Truman inevitably was to place
at his right hand in these enterprises Secre-
tary of State of his own choice, qualified by
another kind of training than Mr.. Stettinius
to supply the President with another kind of
talent of which President Roosevelt did not
feel in need. now was the time for the change
The President very properly resisted
clamors that Mr.. Stettinius be replaced before
h had completed the task he began with the
preparations for Durnbarton Oaks. These de-
mands, from writer's and radio commentators
who among the most incessant critics
of Cordell Hull, were, variously-that Mr.. Tru-
mar. dismiss Mr. Stettinius as soon as he be-
came PRESIDENT that he dismiss him before
the opening of the San Francisco Conference;
and that he replace the Secretary during that
conference for supporting the admission Of
Argentina. The President rejected such de-
structive and Unfair proposals and gave to
Mr. Stettinius the open support and praise
essential to maintain his prestige and power
at San Francisco.
But, once this task was done-brilliantly
and with show of faith and personal fortitude
that is notable in dsillusioned world-thc
time had arrived to make the change, which
for 40 fault failure of the Secretary Of
State, implicit in the unusual circum-
STAGES.
Yet even though no just criticism could
have been made of the President or of Mr.
Stettlnius for the replacement, less sensitive
or compromising man, or particularly less
wel-advised man. would not have managed
the transition as Mr.. Truman did Despite all
kindly expressions to the contrary, there is no
officer OF the Government except the Preside nt
himself whose position is as eminent as that
o. the Secretary of State. And Mr. Stettinius,
after surnounting many handicaps and doing
surprisingly well in role he never dreamed
would be assigned him, was enjoying his hour
OF highest triumph when the President notified
him he was to step aside.
The personal disappointment was natural,
and Mr.. Truman, being very understanding
man who has had his share of Illustrations
and failures realized this completely. He must
also have realized that the Secretary would
be disappointed that he not to 60 to the
most interesting, and in some respects most
mon entous meeting of the Big Three with the
achievements of San Francisco fresh upon
him.
MI. 1IuII1du 5 SOluLlOIl Was DIS dQ1IllTdDie
and solicitous as it was logical and deserved.
In lis letter accepting the Secretary's resig-
nation h, reviewed in detail and with high
| praise the particularly successful labor that
will always be associated with Mr.. Stettinius.
At the same time he announced the Secretary's
eminent and continuing connection with the
United Nations Organizat on which Mr.. Stet-
| titus has done much to establish. The
President could not have made the change
more considerably, so well guarded The
Secretarys public stature, by any other ap-
pointment or by making him Ambassador to
! Great Britain well, which had been rum
mored He did the thing he found essential to
his own and the nations requirements in what
Washington seems to think the perfect way.
The retiring Secretary very obviously does
not feel sorry for himself, and the President
gave no basis for the most ardent of his
friends to feel sorry for him. Mr. Stettinius'
critics will rejoice, but it was not they who
wrought the change.-New York Times.
-V-
Editorial Comment