Evening star., 1947-01-24
Marshall Expected
To Act Swiftly ir
Argentine Dispute

Secretary of State Marshall
was expected today to act swiftly
to resolve the conflict between
Assistant Secretary of State
Spruille Braden and Ambassador
George S. MeSsersmith over re-
lations with Argentina.
President Truman told news
conference late yesterday that he
and Gen. Marshall had discussed
the Braden- -Messersmith differences,
along with matters involving China,
Germany, Palestine and other parts
of the world.
The President also said Gen. Mar
shall has a free hand regarding any
personnel changes in the State De-
partment. Soon thereafter Gen.
Marshall announced his first ap-
pointment to a key position.
Heads Organizational Unit.
He named John E. Peurifoy, a vet
eran of nine years service in the de-
partment, as Acting Assistant Sec
retary of State in charge of admin
istration of the department and the
foreign service Any departmental
reorganiza ton would be handled by
him.
Mr.. Peurifoy, who has worked for
the last year as a special assistant
to Undersecretary Acheson, replaces
temporarily at least Donald Russell,
who resigned with former Secretary
Byrnes. officials said his appoint
ment may be made permanent later
Gen. Marshall attended his first
cabinet meeting as Secretary OF
State and planned later to get ac-
ouainted with the chiefs OF foreign
diplomatic missions in Washington
at a buffet luncheon in the Blair
House across Pennsylvania avenue
from the State Department..
MIR. Truman gave no details OF his
foreign policy review with Gen.
Marshall, and did not indicate his
own feelings in the Braden- n-Messer-
smith conflict. He is reported, how
ever, to desire quick action to
straighten out the issue.
Mr.. Braden, former AmbasSa-
dor to Argentina who now is in dl-
rect charge of relations with all
Latin America, is the champion of
the current tough policy toward
the Argentina government. Mr..
Messersmith, who succeeded Mr..
Braden as Amba ssador in Buenos
Aires, has been urging a frlendlier
attitude.
Messersmith to Plead Case.
In Washington for consultation
since Christmas, Mr.. Messersmith
hopes to lay before Gen Marshall
his arguments for a modification of
Mr.. BradenS firm inSistence that
Argentina fulfill all its international
commitments before this Govern
ment will join in an inter-American
conference scheduled for Rio de
Janeiro to negotiate hemisphere
defense treaty.
No officials pretended to know just
how Gen. Marshall win handle the
complex situation. There was some
speculation that both Mr.. Braden
and Mr.. Messersmith would be asked
to resign. Mr.. Braden is reported to
have taken the position that he will
quit if there is any change IN his
stern handling of Argentina rela-
tionS.
Mr.. Truman said Gen. Marshall
had asked all top State Department
personnel to stay on their jobs. This
obviously included Undersecretaries
Acheson and Clayton, but some un-
certainty was felt over the status
of the Assistant Secretaries. In ad-
dition to Mr.. Braden, these are Will
lard Thorpe, in charge of economic
affairs under Mr.. Clayton; and Will
liam Benton. in charge of public af-
fairs, and John H. Hilldring, in
charge of occupied areas.
Two Vacancies Exist.
Two vacancies already exist In
Assistant Secretary posts In addl-
ton to that filled on an acting
basis by Mr.. Peurifoy. One is the
job of directing political relations
with Europe and Asia. This has
been vacant since James c. Dunn
was made Ambassador to Italy. The
other, charged with liaison with
Congress, was last held by Mr..