Evening star., 1950-09-20
Marshall Confirmation
As Defense Secretary
Is Probable Today
By John A. Giles


firm the nomination of Gen.
George c. Marshall, probably to-
day, to be the Nations third Sec
retary of Defense.
Plans at the Pentagon call for
the general to take the oath of
Office to succeed Louis johnson
almost Immediately. If confrma-
tion comes today, it was consid-
cred likely that Gen. Marshall
would be sworn in tomorrow.
Gen. Marshall'S appointment
was approved, to 2, by the Sen
ate Armed Services Committee
yesterday after he answered al
number of questions on his atti-
tude toward the job. Republican
Senators Cain of Washington and
Knowland of California voted
against the nomination in protest
against naming a military man to
the post. They also voted last
week against the law change
rushed through Congress to make
an exception in Gen. Marshall's
case.
Asked Many Questions.
The 69-year- old general was
asked wide variety of questions
from the condition of his health
to the question of rearming Ger
many and giving arms aid to
Spain.
Gen. Marshall told the commit
tee he had come to the Senate
caucus room from a checkup by
Army physicians at Walter Reed
Hospital who told him "the ma
chinery is all right" He looked
it.
The general stepped gingerly
over the questions on rearming
Western Germany and aiding
Spain. He said he wanted to
talk first with President Truman
and State and Defense officials, |
adding that he had remained
aloof from high policy matters
since stepping out as Secretary
Of State for fear that the officials
would think he was trying to
"barge in"
The Senators, remembering re-
ports that friction between Mr..
johnson and Secretary of State
Acheson had caused Mr.. Truman
finally to ask for Mr.. Johnson's
resignation, asked Gen. Marshall
for his conception" of the rela-
tionship between the two Offices.
"The Secretary of State is the
natural leader in matters of in
ternational relations" Gen. Mar
shall said. "But the Secretary of
Defense is deeply concerned when
these relationships, negotiations
and treaties affect our military
posture"
1t is the duty of the defense
chief to make clear to the State
Department what he perceives in
situations, he continued. The
National Security Council provides
the vehicle" through which there
can be a complete exchange of
ideas but "if there is a disagree
ment." then the President makes
the final decision.
When asked if he would permit
his views as Secretary of State to
interfere with his views as Defense
Secretary. he replied:
II don't say what happens now
washes out all my previous opin-
ions, but I've got to put them
under q microscope.
No Opinion on FormOsa.
He said he would prefer to talk
with Mr.. Truman and State and
Defense officials before expressing
himself on whether Formosa. in
unfriendly hands, might be detri-
mental to the Nations Far East |
ern defenses-a view expressed by
Gen. Macarthur.
Many of the questions came in |
q letter to the committee from
Senator Jenner, Republican, of
Indiana. who had bitterly at
tackled Gen. Marshall in a Senate
speech 1aSC week. since he is not |
a committee member, Chairman
Tydings read the questions.
Senator j n ner wondered
whether Gen. Marshall would
assure the American people un-
equivocally that you will notI
be dominated by or carry out the
policies of Secretary of State DEAN
Acheson who will not turn his back
on Alger Hiss"
II will not answer that ques-
tion." Gen. Marshall replied
quietly.
In reply 10 another question,
he said he did not recall ever
recommending Hiss. later con-
victed of perjury, for a United
Nations planning job.
At one point, Gen. Marshall was
asked why he had coined in" the