Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-01-08
|G. OPP. Senators
Cool 10 Acheson
Appointment
ConnoIIy Predicts
Confirmation Despite
Criticism of Record
BULLETIN

Senator Vandenberg of Mich
igan, ranking minority men,
Der of the Senate Foreign
Relations Committee, today
called for full exploration of
the views of Dean Acheson
when the committee considers
his nomination to be Secretary
OF State Senator Vandenberg
indicated he is not opposed to
Mr.. Acheson by describing him
as a distinguished American
with wide experience in for
eign affairs"
Dean Acheson prepared today
to answer Republican criticism
before his expected confirmation
by the Senate as. Secretary of
State.
Chairman Connally of the Senate
Foreign Relations Committee FORE
cast Senate approval of Mr.. Ache
sons appointment despite a marked
Republican GOODNESS.
/ The committee is expected to set
a date next week for hearing on the
appointment of Mr. Acheson and of
James E. Webb as Undersecretary Of
State.
| President Truman announced their
selection yesterday to replace Secre-
tary of State Marshall and Under
secretary Robert A. Lovett, whose
designations he reluctantly accepted,
effective with his Inauguration jan
uary 90
Some Disappointment Voiced.
Mr.. Acheson's confirmation was
forecast on the basis of his personal
friendship with many Senators, built
up during his former service as
an Assistant Secretary and Under
secretary of State. as we'll as the
unWritten rule that a President can
name almost anybody he chooses
to the cabinet.
But there was evidence that some
influential Republicans-and a few
Democrats-were disappointed at
the choice. Mr.. Acheson has not
escaped some criticism in the past.
There was no apparent opposition
to Mr.. Webb, now budget director,
as Undersecretary, although some
Senators grumbled privately that he
might lack experience in the inter-
national field. The Presidents pro-
motion of Frank Pace, now MIR.
Webb's assistant, to budget director,
and of Frederick j. Lawton to Mr.,
PAGES post as assistant director
were generally approved.
Capitol Hill was caught largely by
surprise by the appointments. The
move was regarded in Congress as
possibly only the first of several
changes in top personnel. Specula-
ton involved the posts of Secretary
of Defense Forrestal Secretary Of
Interior Krug and Secretary of
Commerce Sawyer.
Bipartisanship a Factor.
Reaction in Congress to Mr.. Ache
sons appointment was considered
Important, not only as it might con.
Germ his confirmation but as to
what it might presage for main
tenance of firm bipartisan han
ding of foreign policy under his
direction.
Significantly, perhaps, Senators
Smith Of New Jersey, Hickenlooper
of Iowa and Lodge of Massachusetts,,
Republican members of the Foreign
Relations Cononojttee ref,,Sed "a
comment publicly on the change.
So did Senator George of Georgia,
Democratic member.
Senator Vandenberg, Republican,
OF Michigan, retiring chairman of
the Foreign Relations Committee,
was out of town when the cabinet
change was announced. But friends
said he never has listed Mr.. Ache
son as one of his top choices to sue
coed Gen. Marshall. Senator VAN
denberg was key supporter of BIZ
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