Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-05-15
Clay Arrives tuesday;
Truman and Cabinet
To Lead in Welcome
ey John A. Giles

Gen. Lucius D. Clay will be vel
coined with military honors and
q reception by President Truman
and his cabinet when he returns
from Germany Tuesday.
The National Military Estab-
Iishment yesterday announced
plans for an elaborate homecom-
ing for the retiring American COM
mander In Germany.
It also released q detailed sum-
mary of Gen. clay's work IN Ger
many, crediting him with being |
..the man whose direction trans |
formed the office of military gov
eminent In Germany into useful
tool of United States foreign
policy"
Gen. and Mrs. Clay will arrive
at National Airport at 1918 am.
Tuesday. They will be greeted
with a colorful military ceremony,
including a 17-gun salute and
honor guards from the Army.
Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps.
johnson to Head Delegation.
Secretary of Defense johnson
will head a welcoming delegation
composed of civilian defense lead
ers and high ranking officers. The
public is invited TO the airport
ceremony. il
Immediately after the welcom-
ing ceremony Gen. and Mrs. Clay |
will be received by President Tru-
man and Mrs. Truman In the
White House rose garden.
The elaborate welcome, usually
reserved for battlefield victors.
was viewed as having double
purpose:
1. Paying tribute to the 52-year-
old general who has maintained
American prestige. without mill
tary clashes. in the prolonged and
delicate relations with Russia.
2. Offsetting rumors that Gen.
Clay Is In disfavor with the White
House.
Waiting to welcome the Clays In
the White House rose garden Will
be their two sons, both Army lieu
tenant colonels-Lucius. jr.. sta
toned at the Pentagon, and Frank
B. of Fort Knox, KY.
Others invited to the reception
are Vice President Barley. oil
members of the cabinet; House
Speaker Rayburn, Senator Wherry
and Representative Martin. MI
nority leaders Of the Senate and
House: members Of the Senate
and House Armed Services Com
mittees, and the chairmen and
senior minority members Of the
Senate and House Appropriations
and Foreign Relation Committees.
Gen. Clay was scheduled to
leave Germany today. He was
assigned there four years ago this
month-first as deputy military
governor under Gen. Eisenhower
and later under Gen. Joseph 7.
McNarney. -..
He assumed full responsibility
as American commander and mil
itary governor in January, 1947.
Efforts in Germany Outlined.
The summary Of Gen. Clay's
work detailed his efforts to OBJ
tail unity on the German occupa-
ton with the realization that the
Soviet Government was not In
terested in immedfate settlement"
the subsequent merging OF the
American, British and French
zones, currency reforms and other
steps to build UP sufficient export
balance to Offset cost of food and
other imports from this country.
The summary stated that the
Berlin airlift was q PSYCHOLOGY
cal and theological" victory which
gave new assurance to the de-
mocracies of the world Of "the
Western powers" determination
not to acquiesce to intimidation"
"Integrated with the economic
program, Gen. Clay has carried
through broad programs on poll
tical and social levels" the sum-
mary said. Gen. Clay has made 1t
q policy to guide the Germans to
q faith In democracy through
their experience rather than to at
tempt to impose the American
WAYS % an absolute mold"
Gen. Clay has said he wishes to
retire and 20 cat fishing" In his
native Georgia.
- RRI