Evening star., 1952-03-30
Connally 10 Support
Gen. Gruenther if
Eisenhower Quits Job
BY he Associated Pres.

Gen. Alfred M. Gruenther yes
terday got the Endorsement Of
Senator Connally, Democrat, of
Texas. as commander Of the North
Atlantic Army in Western Europe
IL Gen. Eisenhower leaves the post.
II favor him." Senator Connally
told a reporter when asked about
Gen. Gruenther. Hes a very cap
able man most able to carry out
Eisenhower's plans. He knows
more about the situation than any
other man."
Gen. Gruenther, who is Gen.
Eisenhower's chief Of staff, arrived
back in Paris yesterday after q
week Of testifying before four
congressional committees on the
foreign aid program.
Senator Connally is chairman Of
the Senate Foreign Relations
Committee-one of the groups
working on the administration,s
81. billion foreign aid bill for the
fiscal year starting July /.
Successful Mission.
On his mission here as repre-
sentative Of Supreme Headquar-
tiers, Allied Powers in Europe, Gen.
Gruenther appeared to have done
four things:
/. Laid to rest the plan Of some
lawmakers to ask Gen. Eisenhower
himself to testify on foreign aid
q proposal that raised q political
controversy in view of the SHAPE
commanders prominence in the
race for the Republican Presi.
Dental nomination.
2. Strengthened key congress.
sional support for the mutual as.
sistance program although Gen
Gruenther never committed him.
self to the exact price tags in thu
administration bill.
8. Convinced many members o
Congress that real progress /.
being made in the struggle {,
build up the military strength O
Western Europe.
4. Won new support for him.
self as a possible successor to Gen
Eisenhower.
| Members Of the committees wht
heard Gen. Gruenther behint
closed doors said he was not ques
toned on the latter point. Ant
he avoided any references to DO
litical matters during his visit.
But he did comment, whel
asked about Gen. Eisenhower
'You can't replace q man Of tn
boss stature without creating ,
great gap."
European Commander.
/ Gen Grenther. a bridge-playin,
expert who has held many top adj
ministrative posts in his 80 year
in the Army. also expressed tn,
view while here that it might b,
wise to have q European named
as the next SHAPE commander
But this met opposition from
many lawmakers who said the,
were afraid the American publ,
would not support the program a
wholeheartedly If the top com
mander were not a United State
Officer.
Congress would not have tb pas,
on any American general choSe1
as q successor to Gen. Eisenhower
But the President and the Pent.
agon undoubtedly would want *
pick someone who stood high q,
the Capitol in view Of the annua
battles waged to avoid deer
Islashes In the foreign aid program
The Foreign Relations Commit.
tee hopes to wind UP its hearings
ion the bill tomorrow or Tuesday
Tomorrow 1t Is to question Gen
Omar N. Bradley, chairman ol
1.-THE Joint Chiefs Of Staff.
| The group has not decided when
Iit will get down to work on 1t,
draft of the bill. That may come
later in the week. But supporters
Eof the administrations program
|have indicated they would b.
happy to hold cuts to 81 billion
/ The House Foreign Affairs Com.
lmittee. working on the same meas
ure. still has several witnesses Il
hear.