Evening star., 1949-01-23
4 THE SUNDAY STAR Washington, D. c.
%,
Ambassador Changes
Expected Shortly in
Five Major Capitals
BY the Associoted Press

President Truman and Secretary
of State Acheson are expected to
shake up top American diplomatic
representation abroad in the near
future. Several Ambassadors will
be replaced. Some because they
insist on retiring.
Likewise, diplomatic authorities
here expect that in taking over as
Secretary of State, Mr.. Acheson will
make some changes among his top
policy advisers. This probably will
be in advance of any general reor-
ganization of the State Department
along lines which Mr.. Acheson him.
self has already worked out.
Five major diplomatic posts now
figure in speculation about possible
changes. They are:
Moscow-Gen. Walter Bedell Smith
who has been Ambassador to the
Soviet union since March, 1916, Is
now in Walter Reed Hospital here
for a physical cheekup. He has
suffered from a recurrent stomach
ailment for years and early this
month underwent treatment in
Florida hospital after an attack.
Gen. Smith has been trying to re-
sign for almost year. State De-
partment officials now do not expect
he will return to his post although
President Truman has delayed ac-
cepting his resignation, pending Sc
lection of successor.
Stuart May Be Released.
! NANKING. - Ambassador John
Leighton Stuart, former Yen Ching
University president, has been Am
bassador to China since July, 1916,
when Gen. Marshall enlisted his aid
! in the futile effort to try to end
the Chinese civil war. At 72. Am
baSsador Stuart is reported to have
expressed a desire to get back into
educational work and as soon as the
situation in China itself permits he
may be released.
| PARIS. Jefferson Caffery who
has held the French diplomatic as
signment since 1914, is now 81 years
old and there is increasing talk
among State Department officials
that he will soon be permitted to
retire. There has been considerable
speculation that the Paris post might
60 to labor leader, the name most
frequently mentioned in this con-.
nection being that of George NJ
Harrison, president Of the AFL
Brotherhood of Railway Clerks Mr.
Harrison, however. is reported to be
uninterested in any diplomatic posi-
ton.
| BUENOS AIRES. - James Bruce,
Baltimore businessman, is reported
pressing President Truman and the
State Department to let him leave
the Argentine post, where officials
say he has done good job. Mr.
Bruce was given the assignment in
July, 1947. with the understanding
that he would not be tied UP in
diplomatic service for a long period.
Baruch Retirement in Prospect.
! THE HAGUE.-Herman B. Baruch,
76-year-old brother of the financier
and Government adviser, Bernard M.
Barueh, has held The Netherlands
post since March 13, l947. Prior to
that he had served as Ambassador
to Portugal. Officials here said that
his retirement Is an early prospect.
Another post which may be in
volved in the Encouragement of Dip
lomatic assignments is the Amhassa- =
dorship to Denmark. Josiah Mar
vel, jr., has held that position since
February, 1947. and authorities here
understand that a change is in
prospect for him.
All ambassadors and other top
Government personnel submit resig-
nations to the President at the be-
ginning of a new term. Some are
just formalities. Some, as in the
case of Gen. Smith and Ambassador
Bruce, are reported to be in effect
strongly worded requests to the
President to be allowed to leave
Government service.
| The problem of finding replace
ments for such men is one of the
tasks awaiting joint action by Presi-
dent Truman. Secretary Acheson,
and Assistant Secretary of State
John E. Peurifoy, who is in charge
of personnel both in the State De-
partment and abroad.
Bohlen May Get Soviet Post.
Persons who have figured in spec
ulation for the prospective Moscow
vacancy include Charles E. Boh-
len, present counselor of the State
Department and a Russian policy
expert; George Kennan, chief of the
State Departments policy planning
staff and also Russian expert, and
Assistant Secretary of State George
V. Allen. Mr.. Allen is now running
the State Departments public az
fairs division but previously as Am
bassador to Iran he dealt with the
Soviet at the time it was bringing
pressure on that country.
i Some, however, believe that Mr.
Truman and Mr.. Acheson may
select a complete newcomer to
diplomacy for the Moscow post.
In shakeups inside the depart
ment, at least two top jobs may be
filled fairly soon by Mr.. Acheson
Paul Daniels, chief of the Office
of Inter-American Affairs, is ex-
, pected to go out of the department
to an important Ambassadorship in
Latin America.
Joseph C. Satterthwaite, who has
been director of the ONCE of Near
Eastern and African Affairs dn-
cluding Palestine) for only few
months, is nevertheless slated fol
reassignment abroad fairly soon be-
cause of the law limiting service Of
s; foreign service officers in the State
Department to period OF folIr
years at a time Mr.. Sattertwaite
, has been on duty here since l945.
Citizens to Hear Talk
!, Charles Magill Smith, president Of
i 4