Evening star., 1947-01-08

ator johnson of Colorado has de.
clared publicly in favor of the SOL
dier diplomat.
Gen. Marshall himself has re-
manned completely aloof from pol.
itics.
The announcement that the g.
year-old Byrnes was resigning and
that Mr.. Truman had chosen Gen
Marshall to replace him came in q
manner to astonish even those few
officials who had been in on the
secret of the impending change.
White House reporters had been
told at pm. yesterday that they
could 60 home. There would be
no more news. Most left. Only
four were on hand when Press
Secretary Ross sent word to stick
around, there might be something
more.
In few minutes it came. Mr.
Truman released three letters.
i The one dated last April 16 ex-
pressed Mr.. Byrnes' desire to- quit
by July l.
In the second letter. dated Decem-
ber 10, the Secretary recalled his
earlier desire to leave office and how
1t had been thwarted by failure OF
the Big -Four powers to complete
the satellite peace treaties during
the summer. These were finally
finished in New York in Novem-
ber and December.
Would Like to Be Relieved.
Now that we have reached COM
plete agreement and the treaties
are scheduled to be signed Febru-
ary 10. Mr.. Byrnes wrote Mr.. Tru-
man last month, "I should like tc
be relieved" He added: ..
II think it important the change
should be made at this time. We
have scheduled for March 10 the
meeting at Moscow when work will
be started upon the German treaty
and the Austrian peace settlement
That work will continue for many
months and the secretary who un-
dertakes the task should be in office
sufficiently In advance of the con-
ference to familiarize himself with
the problems.
Therefore I ask that my resigna-
ton become effective January IL
or as soon thereafter as my success
sor is appointed and qualified. fiz
that date because the Senate Will
then be in session and the nomina-
ton of my successor can be sent tt
the Senate simultaneously with the
announcement Of my resignation.
Letter Dated Yesterday.
The third letter which MIR. Ros,
gave out was from Mr.. Truman tt
Mr.. Byrnes accepting the resigna.
ton. It'was dated yesterday.
The decision to announce Mr.
Byrnes' resignation and Gen. Mar.
shall's appointment last night was
made by the Secretary and the
President at White House meeting
a short time before the news wa:
given out. Some said the announce
ment actually was premature"
What happened. according sste
one apparently authentic report, was
that word of the impending change
had spread more widely than Mr.
Byrnes and the President hae
realized and they feared. it would
"leak." They therefore abandoned
their original plan to await Gen
Marshall's arrival and made the
official announcement at once.
Leaders Praise Both Men.
Senator Wherry, Republican, o1
Nebraska, said: "I hope that tn.
first thing Gen. Marshall does is tt
overhaul the State Department.
and I mean really overhaul it ane
shake out the Reds. 7 think he's thu
man to do it and I'm with him 10(
per cent"
Typical of the sentiments express.
ed by House members were thoss
voiced 9. by Representative Bloom
Democrat of New York. ranking
minority member of the House For.
eign Affairs Committee, and of Rep
resentative Wadsworth. Republican
of New York, a member of the com.
mittee.
Sees "Debt of Gratitude"
Mr.. Bloom said that Mr.. Byrnes
was owed a tremendous debt o1
gratitude" for his work in consoli.
dating treaties with the Axis satel.
lites and for helping to put the
United Nations on an operating
basis.
He said Gen. Marshall had one oi
the most able minds" demonstrated
during the war and asserted that he
was equally qualified to carry out
this country's foreign policies as he
was to lead the military forces te
victory.
Mr.. Wadsworth termed Gen. Mar.
shall man with everything neces-
sary to make him one of the greatest
Secretaries of State In the country's
history" He said he felt confident
that Gen. Marshall would carry oui
the work that MIR. Byrnes has sc
ably begun"
Senator George, Democrat, oi
Georgia, a member of the Foreign
Relations Committee: II have q
profound and deep regret because
of the resignation of Secretary
Byrnes. 1 feel he had gotten his
feet very firmly on the ground and
was truly representing the Ameri-
can viewpoint.
81 have every confidence in Gen
Marshall and know him to be A
man of superb character and man
of fine ability in the handling OF
big problems"
Praises Byrnes' Work.
Senator Hickenlooper, Republi-
can, of Iowa.. also of the Foreign
Relations Committee: Secretary
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