Evening star., 1952-07-18
MeC|oy Resigns
TopU.S.Postin
West GERMANY
W.. DonneIIy Named
To Succeed Him as
High Commissioner
By Gornett D. Horner

By Gomett D. Horner
President Truman today an
nounced the resignation of John
j. McCloy as United States High
Commissioner for Germany and
his replacement by Walter j.
Donnelly. now United States High
Commissioner for Austria.
Lewellyn E. Thompson. jr., a
veteran career diplomat now serv-
ing as Counselor of the American
Embassy at Rome, was named to
succeed Mr., Donnelly as High
Commissioner for Austria.
The changes are scheduled to
go into effect July 81. when Mr..
McCloy's resignation is effective.
Mr.. McCloy is expected to return
to Washington about July %.
For Personal Reasons.
A White House announcement
said Mr.. McCloy had resigned for
personal reasons. He had let it
be known some time ago that he
wanted to leave Germany this
summer.
Mr.. McCloy told the President
his course was prompted by "a
number of circumstances which I
feel are consistent with the best
interests of the country as well
as my own" He did not amplify
The retiring official expressed
deep appreciation for the COM
plete and unfailing support I have
received from you and the Secre-
tary Of State"
In regretfully accepting Mr..
McCloy's resignation. Mr.. Tru-
man expressed great personal ap-
probation for the outstanding
contribution he has made in help
ing to bring Germany into the
Western defense line up.
Managed Peace Contract.
Mr.. McCloy represented the
United States in negotiations that
led to the recent signing of a peace
contract" with Western Ger
many. At the same time another
treaty creating a six-nation Euro
pean army with Germany as a
partner was concluded.
When the nations concerned
complete ratification of these
treaties, Mr.. Donnelly will become
the first postwar American AM
bassador to the West German
government. The United States
already has ratified the peace con-
tract.
Mr.. McCloy, 81. formerly a
prominent lawyer in New York,
is expected to return to private
law practice. He served as Assist
ant Secretary of War from 1941
until 1945. After a brief return
to private life he became presi-
dent of the World Bank in 1947.
He has been United States High
Commissioner for Germany since
May Is, 1949.
Career Diplomat.
Mr.. Donnelly, Sc, a native of
New Haven, Conn, entered Gov
ernment service in 1921 with the
Justice Department. He joined
the Commerce Department in
1923 and served as trade COM
missioner or commercial attache
at several Candian and Latin
American posts until 1899 when
he was appointed a foreign serv-
ice officer.
He rose to the top diplomatic
rank in 1947 when he was made
Ambassador. to Costa Rica. Later
that year he was transferred to
Venezuela as Ambassador, hold
ing that assignment until moved
to Austria in 1850.
In addition to serving as High
Commissioner for Austria, Mr..
Donnelly also was accredited as
the first postwar American Am
baSsador to that country in 1851.
Thompson Is COloradan.
Mr.. Thompson, At, a native of
Colorado, is veteran of % years
in the foreign service.
He has served at numerous posts
abroad and has filled several as
signments in the State Depart
ment here. He was deputy AS
sistant Secretary of State for
European affairs for year before
going to Rome in 1850.
Mr.. Thompson will be succeeded
as the No. 2 man in the Rome En-
bassy by Elbridge Durbrow. an
other veteran career diplomat who
has been serving here as chief of
the State Departments division of
foreign service personnel for the
last two years.
Both Mr.. Thompson and Mr.
Durbrow are among the compare
lively few American diplomats
considered expert on Russian af-
fairs. Both have served in the
embassy at Moscow. Both also
have attended the National Wal
College. Mr.. Durbrow was deputy
commandant of the National Wal