Evening star., 1948-04-22
| Hartman Named ERp
Ambassador; Sawyer
Slated as Secretary

IdIeQ dS yeCIe1My
The high command for the
European Recovery Program was
taking final shape today with the
designation of Secretary of Com
merce Hartman for the post o1
rowing ambassador" to aid In
the direction of the multi
billion dollar enterprise.
There was also the possibility that
Jess Larson, Oklahoma lawyer now
serving as war assets chief, woulo
be named deputy to Economic Co.
operation Administrator Paul G
Hoffman.
Charles Sawyer of Cincinnati, for
mer Ambassador to Belgium, was
nominated by President Truman to-
day to succeed Mr.. Hartman in the
ca binet.
Sawyer Accepts.
| Presidential Secretary Charles G
Ross said Mr.. Sawyer's nomination
probably went to the Senate, along
with that of Mr.. Hartman.
Mr.. Truman offered the COM
merce post to Mr.. Sawyer by long
distance telephone last night after
Mr.. Hartman agreed to give ur
that position to take over the ERR
job.
Mr.. Ross said Mr.. Sawyer tele-
phoned Mr.. Truman today from
his home at Cincinnati accepting
the appointment. He Is now prac-
ticing law.
Mr.. Ross had no comment on the
reports that Mr.. Larson would get
the ERP deputy post.
The Hartman appointment was
announced late yesterday at the
White House after a lengthy con-
ference between President Truman
and his Commerce chief, who has
just returned from riot-torn Bogota
where he sat in on the Pan-Amer-
ican Conference.
Hoffman Is Elated.
The Associated Press quoted un-
identified officials as speculating or
Mr.. Larson as the top choice 70,
principal aide to ECA Administrator
Hoffman.
Mr.. Hoffman was elated at Mr.
Harriman's acceptance of the am
bassadorship, which pays $25 900
and involves keeping in touch with
the 16 countries benefiting under
the IS ,300, 100000 recovery program
Mr.. Hartman said he expected
headquarters would be in Paris.
He was No. l on my list" Mr.
Hoffman told reporters. This is
more than just an appointment
the success of this undertaking de-
pends in major part on the calibeI
OF man who is rowing ambassador
Truman Yields to Request.
Mr.. Truman, through a White
House spokesman, said he regretted
losing Mr.. Hartman from the
cabinet.
But he yielded to Mr.. Hoffman's
request for Secretary Harriman's
services because of the transcend
ant Importance of this new work,
lit was stated. He telephoned the
Secretary at Bogota last Friday. Mr.
Hartman agreed to take the post
and returned to this country Tues
day night.
Mr.. Hartman, Sc, is former
Ambassador to Great Britain ano
to Russia. Ayoweoly friendly to
the Soviet Union during his war
time tour of duty in MOSCOW, he
since has criticized Russia sharply
The Soviet Union is "a greater
menace than Hitler was" he re-
Gently told a congressional COM
mittee.
Nevertheless, Mr.. Hartman. son
of railroad builder E. H. Hartman
is a firm believer in keeping eper
the trade routes between Western
Europe and. the. SOVIET satellites
He holds that democracy can entel
that way.
Hartman Optimistic.
Telling reporters at the White
House there has been "over-empha'
sis" on Russian strength and West
ern Europes weakness, the million
aire official predicted:
"If we can get these 260,0O0,0OO
hard working people back on theil
feet. they won't have the same feal
OF the pressures from the East.
I'm satisfied that freedom ant
democracy ultimately will roll bacl
behind the so-called iron curtain
in Europe"
The appointment Of Mr.. Larson
as deputy to Mr.. Hoffman woulo
fill the third key spot in the re-
covery setup. A newcomer to OH
cial Washington, he has wor
friends in his few months as sur
plus disposal chief, and with that
task soon winding up, would be
available for the assignment.
He was on a preferred list pre-
pared by Mr.. Hoffman for Mr.
Truman's consideration, according
to officials. This post, which pays
s17,500, and the rowing ambassa-
dorship are subject to Senate con-
firmation, but no hitch is expected
there, once the nominations are
submitted.
Acting Counsel Named.
Earlier yesterday, Mr.. Hoffman
named Alex Henderson, New York
lawyer, as acting counsel of ECA
Mr.. Henderson, SIS, is member o1
the firm of Cravath, Swaine and
Moore. He formerly was deputy
director general for industries oi
the War Production Board.
Mr.. Sawyer, 81, is close frienc
of the President. He was Ambas-
sador to Belgium in 1944-45 and has
been a White House caller fire.