Milford chronicle., 1950-09-08
Apology Is Wrung
From Truman BY
Angry Marines
In Convention
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rine Corps League which opened
in Washington on Wednesday amid
rank-and-file denunciation of the
Presidents remarks.
President Clay Nixon did read
the letter to the indignant mem
bership, and the tempest subsided
in cheers and scattered boos.
The uproar began with publica-
ton of Mr. Trumans letter to Nc
DonOugh in the Congressional
Record. The congressman had writ
ten the President urging equal
representation for the Marines on
the Joint Chiefs of Staff, along
with the Army, Navy and Air
Force. Mr.. Truman said no, then
added:
"The Marine Corps is the Navy's
police force and as long as / am
President that is what it will re-
man. They have a propaganda ma
chine that is almost equal to
Stalin's."
"Magnificent History" Lauded
Wednesday, praising the Marines
magnificent history" over 175
years, the President declared that
he intended to say these things in
his letter to McDOnough:
1. The Marines, as part of the
Navy Department, already are rep
resented on the Joint Chiefs of
Staff by the chief of naval opera
tiOns.
2 Many pleas for direct repre-
sentation "are the result of prOpa-
ganda inspired by individuals who
may not be aware of the best in
terests of our defense establish
ment as a whole. But, Mr.. Truman
added, 81 am certain that the Ma
rine Corps itself does not indulge
in such propaganda"
3. when spoke of the Marines
as the Nays police force" the
President said 81 had in mind it's
immediate readiness = for SER
vice with the fleet in the seizure
or defense of established naval
bases and for the conduct of such
land operations as may be essen
tial to the prosecution of a naval
campaign"
Mr.. Truman said he would con-
tinue to support and maintain"
the Marine Corps as a separate un-
it vital to Americas security.
Il personally learned of the
splendid combat spirit of the Ma
rines when the Fourth Marine Bri-
gade of the Second Infantry Divi-
sion fought in France in 1913"
said the President, himself an ar
tilery captain in World War l.
He ended his letter by predicting
that the Marines would add new
laurels' to their career by their ex-
ploits in Korea today.
General Gates, smiling broadly
as he left the White House with
Mr.. Truman's Letter. told reporters
the Marines were very gratified
to receive this letter.
Closed Incident, Nixon Says
Nixon, who earlier had demand
ed presidential apology on behalf
OF the Marine Corps League, called
the matter a CLOSED incident"
On capitol hill, where the pro-
tests against Mr.. Truman's re-
marks began. there was a similar
lowering of temperatures
Senator Mundt CR-SD) said
Good! If the President would fol-
low that by a retraction of his
equally unfortunate statement that
communism in this country is a
red herring, we would indeed have
cause for qualification.
Senator Douglas (D-IlD, Marine
Corps officer in World War II,
said: Il have always been sure,
ever since l saw the letter, that it
did not represent the real senti-
ment of the President. l am de-
lighted the mater has been cleared
up"
Said Senator Hickenlooper (R-
la), who Tuesday took the Presi-
dent to task from the Senate floor:
Il am glad the President has seen
fit to acknowledge the injudicious-
ness of his words"
Senator Mccarthy (R-Wis), an
ex-Marine, said he hoped Mr.. Tru-
mans new letter serves to undo
some of the damage his viciOusly
Incorporate language must have
done to the morale of Marines
fighting and dying in Korea"
President Called NincOmpOOD
Stronger language still was
heard on the floor of the Marine
League convention before the Pres
ident's new letter was read.
Sheriff William G. Harris of
Savannah, Ca, called Mr.. Truman
AN incompetent nincOmpOop
All during the afternoon session,
Harris had been jumping up and
asking whether the time had ar
rived to give Truman hell.
Finally he got the for to do the
job himself.
81 gave up three of the best
years of my life" he said, "to be
able to get up and give the Presi.
dent of this great country hell and,
God damn it, he is going to get il
now.
1--WE been against him always
and l am going to redouble my ef-
forts and get him out of the White
House and into the shed house. We /
ought to give him a licking for his
stupid statement"
Harris drew cheers by calling
Mr.. Truman "this creature in the