Evening star., 1947-01-22
MurshuII's Statement
Adds to His PRESTIGE
America and World Gained by
Great Mans Conduct

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America and World Gained by
Great Mans Conduct
By David Laurence
When q man of prominence says he
doesn't want to be President OF the
United States almost everybody familiar
with the lodges and evasions of politics
thinks 1t isn't final and that, when
sufficiently coaxed or actually drafted,
there. will surely be acceptance.
But Gen. Marshall has known all
along this type of maneuver, and 1t may
be said that his statement to the effect
that he would not be and could not
be drafted" for any political Office was
no spur r-of-the- moment pronouncement.
Some light may be thrown on the
matter by an unpublished incident that
occurred during the war when certain
military man was being discussed for
political office Gen. Marshall was dis
turbed by the reports because he felt
that no man with high command
should even be mentioned in the press
as political factor, especially while
the war was being fought. So Gen.
Marshall, when he had occasion to visit
the general In question, talked the mat
ter over very frankly and reported sub
sequently that the military commander
was not candidate and had said so.
But Gen. Marshall expressed disap-
pointment that some explicit statement
forever squelching such rlmors and re-
ports was not issued at once because
it was such simple matter to clear up.
No Evasion in General.
Now, in the light of Gen. Marshall's
initial statement as Secretary of State,
the public has learned that there is no
equivocation or evasion in the generals
makeup. Those who have known him
well have felt so all along. The surprise
which the public may be getting that
there is man who really doesn't want
to be President of the United States
md would not accept the presidential
animation if drafted, is in itself an
indication of how much the people have
come to read political ambition hereto
fore into the behavior of high officials,
especially cabinet members or members
of Congress.
Strangely enough, there will be many
people who will be genuinely disappoint-
ed over Gen. Marshalls decision, because
he is just the kind Of man who ought to
be President-he is one of the great
statesmen of our times. But precisely
because he wants to do job as Secre-
tary of State which he could never do II
he we're politically minded or inclined
to seek higher office, he will do better
in his post than almost any other selec-
ton.
Tenure May Be Long.
Indeed, If Gen. Marshall succeeds as
Secretary of State and Republican ad-
ministration comes into Office In 1948,
it would occasion no surprise if the gen.
ersl were kept on in that post.
The most important result of the gen.
erals announcement is that 1t immedi-
ately surrounds him with a prestige
both inside and outside this country
which no man in public Office, not even
TIcSlOCuG IdII SOiiiIlldAAu.
1t might be asked why the general Is
so anxious to be nonpolitical in his new
assignment First, he has been an Army
officer all mis- life and has learned to
keep out of politics, but, second, he
knows better than any man in govern
ment that the best way to keep faith
with the boys who made the supreme
sacrifice under his wartime command is
to forge an enduring peace. What q
challenge to a military man! A chance
to develop peace program at a time
of international chaos! Plainly the
mission is greater than being President
and becoming involved in the thousand
and one squabbles Of pressure groups Of
selfish men.
Secretary of State Marshall has given
the Nation an example Of true modesty
and simple determination to render his
country the maximum of disinterested
service. What wonderful atmosphere
in which to approach the problems Of
the world at time when the United
States is expected to assume leader
ship!
Overnight the prestige of Secretary
Marshall is such that at any Big Three
or Big Four conference his stature be-
comes equivalent to that of any of his
predecessors. America and the world
have gained by reason of simple piece
of selfless conduct by a great man.
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