Evening star., 1952-04-12

Eisenhower Picture. Pose A-3
his job as boss of the North At
lantic Treaty forces will end
June l.
Until he leaves, Gen. Eisenhow-
er told a news conference, II am
not going to discuss any kind of
political questions, so I can devote
myself to this job"
He said he hasn't made any
definite plans to campaign for the
presidential nomination. Clearly,
however, the public announce
ment of the end of his military
job give his we'll organized back
ers the plow they need to till the
political fields.
No Idea of Successor.
Gen. Eisenhower said he had
mot the slightest information"
on who his successor as NATO
commander might be. A good
many other men could fill the
post. possibly far better than l."
he said.
He also disclosed he will resign
his permanent commission as a
f1ve-Star general If he is nomi-
mated to run for President so ne
would be "free to speak, like any
other citizen, on any subject"
But, he said. he will resign only
it he is nominated.
No general of his five-star rank
can be forced to retire-but he
can resign if he wants to.
AS long as he keeps the life
time job, he draws full pay of
$l8,761 a year. OF that amount.
$7,304 is in non-taxable allow
ances and the remaining S1l,457
is taxable base pay.
Questions Barred.
He held the floor for a quarter
hour before a packed gathering
or reporters and refused to sub
NIT to questions.
Later. repeating himself for ra-
dio, television and newsreels, he
revealed his hope to attend an
Abilene celebration June 4.
After that. he added, Mamie
CMrs. Eisenhower and would
like to take a brief vacation if
circumstances permit"
His talk included a plea to
keep NA'TO going strong because
"the quest for peace is always
with U.S."
Security, peace and liberty
these are the watchwords by
which we live at SHAPE" the
general said.
He said publication of his re-
quest to go back on inactive
status was delayed because of his
desire to break the news himself
to the other NATO commanders
that he was leaving.
All Present in Tears.
Gen. Eisenhower told these 70
hard-bitten military officials yes
terday, shortly before the WASH
ington announcement was made.
An aide said his moving speech
brought tears to the eyes of every
man there.
The general will leave April 16
for Brussels to begin a series Of
farewell visits to the North Atlantic
Treaty Organization capitals in
Europe.
Most of his remarks were ex-
temporaneous. but in a brief pre-
pared statement he declared:
I'VE must not let this great CO.
operative work to which we have
set our hands falter or perish. The
quest for peace is always with us.
We must always keep it in focus.
Security, peace and liberty-these
are the watchwords by which we
live at SHAPE"
Incessant Repercussion.
The general began his confer
ence by explaining that "in the
past month my personal life has
been markedly changed.
Since my January statement
Tin which he said he would accept
but not seek the Republican nomi-
nation) events in the United
States and their incessant reper-
cussions here have made it i'm
possible for me to remain.
"TheSe pressures compel me to
wait no longer. I hope that this
act of asking for relief will release
me from these pressures and make
it possible for me to finish up the
job I have set for myself here"
In addition to his April 18 visit
to Brussels. Gen. Eisenhower will
visit The Hague, the Netherlands.
April 10; Oslo. Norway, April 81.
and Copenhagen, Denmark, April
%, returning to Paris April %.
He plans other farewell visits to
London and Rome, but no date has
been set.
SHAPE officers said the general
would also go to Portugal, Greece
and Turkey before he leaves.