Evening star., 1951-10-23
Clonnal|y Will Fight
CIark's Appointment
As Envoy TO Vatican
By jock Bell
Associated Press Stoff Writer

BY jock Bell
Associated Press Sfoff Writer
Opposition by Senator Connally
Democrat, of Texas. gave weight
today to a Democratic move to
y avoid a vote on President Tru-
mans nomination of Gen. Mark
clark as Ambassador to the Vat
ican.
Senator Connally based his fight
against the appointment on Gen.
Clark's World War II command
OF the Seth Texas National Guard
DIVISION in the bloody Rapido Riv-
er crossing in Italy.
But a Democratic Senator who
usually supports Mr.. Truman's
proposals told a reporter he and
others hope for avoidance of the
religious issue raised by the Presi-
dents move to give full diplomatic
recognition to the Vatican.
IhlS Senator. who asked that
ms name not be used, said he be-
heves the Presidents action has
put on a hot political spot every
senator running for reelection
next year in States where the re-
suit is in doubt.
Hope For Old Setup.
A vote for confirmation of Gen.
Clark would anger Protestant ele-
ments which have opposed giving
diplomatic recognition to the Ro-
man Catholic Church state, the
Senator said, while a vote against
Gen. Clark might arouse Catholics
who hold the balance of power in
some areas.
AS a result. the Democratic
Senator said he and others hope
the President will decide to name !!
Gen. Clark as his personal rep
,resentative to the Vatican. Myron
c. Taylor held that status from
lS40 until last January.
This would not require Senate
action on the appointment, nor
would it require action by both
Houses on a bill to waive the law
against a military officers ap-
potntment to civilian post. It
also would not involve official
diplomatic recognition of the
Vatican.
Senator Connally's was the first
opposition voiced by a Senator to
Gen. Clark personally. In a state
ment yesterday, Senator Connally
said the nomination lis dead" un-
less recess appointment is made.
White House sources indicated /
none would be made because of
doubt that Gen. Clark could serve
and retain his military status. He
has said he will not give that up.
Mistreatment Charged.
Senator Connally heads the /
Senate Foreign Relations Com t
mittee. which would have to pass /
on any subsequent nomination. |
Senator Connally asserted Gen.
Clark had "mistreated and dis
criminated against the Texas seth
Division and other Texas troops" /
in the Rapido crossing.
He showed himself unfit to
fill any high position, either mill
tary or civil" Senator Connally |
declared. Former Secretary of |!
War Robert Patterson has de-
Tended Gen. Clark's conduct of
the Italian campaign.
Various Protestant ministers and
organizations continued yesterday
to denounce the move to establish
diplomatic relations with the Vati-
can on the ground that it was a
violation of American concept of
separation of church and State.
Catholics generally took the posi-
fton that it would be the interests
OF. world peace and welfare.
The Eastern Conference Luth-
eran Synod of Maryland, United
Luthern Church in America, meet
Ing in Baltimore, adopted resolu-
tion expressing its deep displeas-
Hre" at the Presidents action. The
Eastern Conference includes all
United Lutheran churches IN
Washington.
Special Meeting Called.
: The National Council of the
Churches Of Christ in the U. S. A.
summoned a special meeting in
New York on October 81 to discuss
the matter. The 1875 member
General Board of the council
was called into special session.
Churches represented in the coun-
Gil have some 81 million members.
The st. Louis Baptist Ministers'
Conference called the action by
Mr.. Truman, himself a Baptist, a |;
move Ito secure the Roman Cath
olic vote" and said 1t will oppose
the President if he seeks re-elec-
tion.
At least five Protestant church,
organizations in Virginia have
passed resolutions condemning
the appointment. Some of them
have dispatched kilograms of pro-
test to the President and Virginia
Congressmen.
Leading the opponents was the