Evening star., 1952-03-18
Eisenhower 5 Letter
Viewed as LEAVING
Way Open for Return

:.
Way Open for Return
Gen. Eisenhower's letter on the
question Of returning from Europe
strengthened some congressional
opinion today that his. refusal at
this time left the issue of his
coming back wider open than
before. '.
In his March 10 reply which
10 House Republicans gave out
yesterday. he promised to "regu-
larry re-examine the present posi-
ton in preferring to remain in
Europe.
But besides referring to the
doubtful possibility of being re-
Ieved ''by higher authority" in
the immediate future. Gen. Eisen-
hover indicated he is prepared to
come home to campaign for the
presidency in event Of a "com-
pelling CALI caused by major
changes in political circum-
stances"
Most members Of Congress who
commented on the Eisenhower let
ter interpreted it as leaving the
door open for him to campaign
Tor the Republican presidential
nomination. Few, however, be-
heved he would return to the
United States before May, unless
he is invited to testify before con-
gressional committees on the for
eign aid bill.
Text Of Letter. /
-he generals letter was as fol-
lows:
Since my return from an in
specton trip to Turkey and
Greece, I have read and reread
the letter from you and your as
Sociates that awaited me on my
desk. Naturally, I am deeply i'm
pressed by the earnestness and
compelling sincerity OF your mes
sage. Beyond that. lam per-
SonaHy touched and moved by the
honor you do me in your words;
by the Importance of the services
in the political field you believe
] could render to Americas pres
ent and future. That being so,
whatever my own personal opinionI
may be of my present assignment
or of any future duty. / must
weigh heedfully and carefully thel
arguments advanced by you and
my other friends. I assure you
that to every consideration you
advance I am attempting to give
my earnest thought and study.
Under most circumstances. II
would concede Immediately the1
complete validity of your argu-
ment.
Dominant Personal Conviction.
However. as I am now situ-l
ated, assigned to a duty that II
firmly believe is of the utrnost[
consequence to the peace and !
prosperity of America and the
world. I am confronted by one
dominant personal conviction
during the next few months mol
other Job or mission that I can
discharge seems more important
than the. one in which ]. am npw1
engaged. My own personal in
clinations. the advice of loyal
associates and warm friends, the
possibilities that lie ahead-nonei
Of these can be permitted to OUT
weigh an inescapable and present.
duty.
1 "Of course. I am not indis-
pensable to the success of NATOI
and SHAPE-even if at one timet
many may have thought me so.
If I were. then I should actually
be to some extent a failure, for
one of my primary objectives here
has been the development Of AM
organization that can carry onI
despite any loss In personnel
from the supreme commander
through all the levels Of the staff.
With the help of devoted and able
associates. that sort of organiza-
tton has been perfected. I firmly
believe that, should walk out of
This headquarters tomorrow, the
mission would be carried on byI
competent handS-carried on sue
4essfully.
New Problems Arise.
q Nevertheless each day is marked
by some new problem, often one
without precedent. To the solu-
ton Of each ! can contribute at
least a little. OF course, must
admit that, as the climate of CO.
operation and mutual understand
ing increases from the highest to
sthe lowest levels Of the Allied
forces, my contribution to these
;solutions may cease to be impor-
Sant, much less essential. But
That, If anything, intensifies my
problem.
There is no question in my
mind concerning the propriety Of
4 Tha Won4has