Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1950-09-14
The Political Mil
Va
Marshall Choice Called
Stroke for U. S. Defense
Acheson Now Stands on Top
But His Stock Could Fall
By Gould Lincoln

President TrumanS substitution Of
Gen. George c. Marshall for Louis
Johnson as Secretary of Defense was
stroke for the Truman administration
politically-and stroke for the Nations
defense. Probably no man In the coun-
try is better qualified than Gen. Marshall
when 1t comes to sizing up military
needs. Certainly no man is more highly
regarded than the former Chief Of Staff
during World War II and former Sec
rotary of State.
With a congressional election less
than two months in the future. and
many individuals and organizations
clamoring for Mr.. Johnson's scalp, and
the Republicans making him an issue.
Mr.. Truman let him out, Notwithstanding
the fact that MIR. johnson raised $1.5
million for the Truman campaign in the
perilous days Of 1948.
The story is widely circulated that the
President followed this course because
Mr.. johnson was unable to go along
with Secretary of State Achesons poll
cies and was seeking to knife Mr.. Ache
son.
All Looks Pretty Pat.
It all looks pretty pat, however. with
Mr.. johnson bowling out because he had
brought criticism on Mr.. Truman and
his administration-and at the same
time recommending Gen. Marshall for
appointment in his cabinet place. A
recommendation which the President
must have had in advance-or seized
on Immediately when he received the
johnson letter of resignation.
Secretary johnson had been under
fire ever since the Korean war broke
out-from Americans who were amazed
and harshly critical because the Korean
Reds were able to run our armed forces
almost into the sea, and because we
had, apparently, neither enough men
nor enough arms. Before that, Mr..
johnson had been under fire of high
ranking officers of the Navy, who in
sisted that his policies were scrapping
the country's first line Of defense-the
Navy.
At the same time, Secretary Acheson
has been under attack because of the
State Departments policies in the Far
East, particularly in China and Korea.
Republicans have charged again and
again that these Acheson policies, and
those of his immediate predecessors in
the State Department, had resulted in
throwing China into the arms of the Reds.
They will continue these chargeS-and
Mr.. Acheson, too, may become political
liability. Mr.. Truman was adamant in
his recent statements that both Messrs
Johnson and AcheSon would remain IN
his cabinet If, however, ne could re-
lent in his stand for Mr.. johnson, is it
within the possibilities he could alter
his stand with regard to Mr.. Acheson?
Acheson Now on Top.
The general opinion, in official Wash
ington, is that today Mr.. Acheson stands
at the top of the heap, and that his stock
may rise still higher, depending on the
results of the Foreign Ministers con-
ference in New York. Some Of his Re-
publican critics, however, are predicting
that Mr.. Acheson is laying the ground
for ultimate recognition Of Red China
by the United States-after first failing
to use the veto, which is the right Of
the United States. to keep Red China
out of the United Nations and OF the
Security Council. This, they claim. will
rival Neville Chamberlain's mistake at
Munich, just prior to World War II. To
play for the friendship of Red China.
and to appease her in this manner, would
be futlle-for with whom will Red China
line up when the showdown comes be-
tween the United States and Red Russia?
Will Red China throw in with the United
States and the other Western Powers
against Red Russia who sits right on
China's border?
Once Red China is admitted to the
United Nations and the Security Council
and we deal with her there in New
York-it will be entirely incongruous for
this country to continue to recognize
Nationalist China and to ignore Red
China In Washington.
How soon, moreover. it Is asked. will
the Truman administration assume still
a new position toward the FormoSa prob
lem. At present the Chinese Reds are
told they must keep hands off Formosa
where Chiang-kai Shek is holed up with
Nationalist army of 100000 men-at
least until their brother Reds in Korea
have been defeated. Not very palatable
dish either for the Chinese Reds or for
their allies, the Russian Reds.