Evening star., 1951-11-03
Eisenhower
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@aSShsHtSVS
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quick to point out. however. that
the general didn't exclude discus
sion of politics with friends who
might see him socially in periods
between his round Of White House
and Pentagon conferences.
One who has announced he
plans to see the general is Sen
ator Duff. Republican. of Penn
sylvania. He plans to wait until
Monday night or Tuesday to call
on the five-star visitor.
Duff Wants Reinsurance.
Senator Duff, who has expressed
confidence Gen. Eisenhower can
be drafted for the Republican
nomination, obviously wants to
reassure himself on that point.
He also may urge a January state
ment by the general which would
establish him as Republican and
as being available for any call to
duty that might come from his
country.
Senator Duff is flying to Texas
Wednesday for Q round of speeches
and conferences with Republican
leaders in that State. He obviously
would like to take along with him
some more concrete substantiation
Of his claim that the general is
available, even if only for use in
private conversations with leaders,
Gen. Eisenhower spoke for him
self alone when he said his talks
with President Truman will in
volve only strictly military" mat
ters. A close friend of Mr.. Tru-
man. who asked not to be quoted
by name, told reporters he would
be surprised if the conversation
doesn't turn in time to the length
of Gen. Eisenhower's future serv-
ice as commander of the North
Atlantic Treaty Organization
forces.
The general has indicated he is
loath to make any statement even
remotely political while he is in
uniform.
May Discuss Their Futures.
The Presidents friend-who
doesn't believe Mr.. Truman will
run again-sai6 he thinks "the
boss" will want to know Gen.
Eisenhower's attitude toward the
draft movement being famed for
him by Senator Duff, Gov. Dewey
OF New York and others.
1t would be natural, Mr.. Tru-
mans friend said. for the two
men to talk about the future of
the presidency. That they might
reach an understanding on each
others future plans is regarded
as possible by many politicians.
Most of Gen. Eisenhower's two
days in Washington are expected
to be devoted to:
CAD Plans for whipping to-
gether a closely knit fighting
force in Europe, and (B) ways
Of ending reported clash be-
tween Washington civilian Gov
leaders and the Pentagon
over the organization and speed
If military production.
Mr.. Truman summoned the
general from Paris to Washing
ton with the announced plan of
conferring on matters affecting
the Supreme Allied Command and
the North Atlantic defense setup.
May Ask Drastic Steps.
Officials in a position to give
an authoritative outline said Gen.
Eisenhower will ask some drastic
steps to create a balanced fight
ing force in the shortest possible
time. say six months to a year.
This would be sooner than had
been contemplated under the
long range view.
The idea was said to be to give
Europe an effective, if small, mill
tary force that would help inspire
confidence while the long-range
plan is still carried forward. The
idea OF having a really adequate
defense within three years would
continue to be the goal.
It is generally agreed that Gen.
Eisenhower has not been happy
about the progress of the joint de-
fenSe program, and has felt at
times that the United States
wasn't pressing the European gov
hard enough to do more.
Conceivably, the idea of a force in
being would encourage faster
progress.
One of the reasons behind Gen.
EiSenhower'S return for confer
ences at this time is understood to
be difference of opinion in
Washington on production pro-
cedureS.
Wilson Presses for Goals.
Defense Mobilizer Charles E.
Wilson is understood to have been
pressing the Pentagon for some
time to Ak detailed and specific
production goals for armament
and military materials generally.
He is said to have argued against
delays in production which result
from frequent retooling of plants
to incorporate the very latest de-
velopments in various weapons.
Mr.. Wilson Is understood to be
dissatisfied with the responses he
has received and to feel that the