Evening star., 1948-09-19
Stassen Backed
For State Post
Some Republicans Prefer
Him to Dulles for
Cabinet Job
By Constantine Brown

Persistent reports that John Fos-
ter Dulles will be Secretary of State
if Gov. Thomas E. Dewey is elected
President are regarded as highly
premature by those close to the New
York Governor.
It is true that for several years
Mr.. Dulles has been chief foreign
affairs adviser to the Republican
presidential candidate. 1t Is also
true that Gov. Dewey feels himself
obligated toward the 64-year-old
New York lawyer But some staunch
supporters of the New York Gov
1eYnor are definitely opposed to CIV
ing the top cabinet position to the
sparty's principal adviser on foreign
affairs.
Foreign Problem Paramount
It is recognized today that Amer
ican foreign policy will be the para
mount problem confronting the new
administration. The solution Of our
most important domestic problems
will depend on the conduct OF for
eign relations.
The President of the United
States is the man on whom lies the
heavy responsibility for guiding the
ship of state through the tempestu-
GUS international waters. But while
he lays down principles OF foreign
policy, it is up to the Secretary OF
State and the State Department to
implement them and to keep the
Chief Executive posted ON what is
going on in the world.
Mr.. Dulles unquestionably is a
highly respectable man. But he has
been too long identified with what
is generally described as the bipartl-
san foreign policy which, in fact
meant Republican acquiescence in
all the policies of the administra-
tion.,
Too Idealistic
The broth prepared by the men
who have collaborated in the So
called bipartisan policy was not
of good quality.
Mr.. Dulles has gone along with
everything the present administra-
ton has done. While he is an abs
and we'll -to-do lawyer, his abilities
as an organizer are doubted oy
those who know him well.
Mr.. Dulles is too idealistic and
kindhearted to make the neces-
sarv reforms In the State Depart
.ment.
These considerations have lee
many close friends of the Repuo'
lican standard bearer to urge him tt
reconsider his reported inclination
to give the top-ranking cabinet po'
sition to his present adviser on IN
ternational problems.
Many Republicans have turned
their eyes toward a former con-
tender for the presidential ncmina-
tion-Harold Stassen.
Mr.. Stassen is young and mex
perienced. But he is highly inteli-
gent and flexible in his opinions.
His inexperience was shown in ls47
when he visited Moscow and fell
into Mr.. Stains trap by making
public the Red dictator's VIEWS
which had been specially cooked up
for naive but politically prominent
American callers at the Kremlin.
Misht Prove Popular
At that time Mr.. Stassen believed
that by putting on the mantle of
the late Wendell Willkie he might
make important political hay with
the 22,00o, GOO Americans who had
voted for Mr.. Willkie in 1910. But
having a flexible mind. he realized
his mistake and in the last IL
months has learned more about
Soviet policies than some old-timers
had throughout their political lives.
And our foreign relations In the
next few years will hinge on clear
understanding Of Soviet Russian
aims.
Mr.. Etassen also has the ylgor
and energy of Midwesterrler in
his early 4os. Neither his mind nor