CONSTITUTION INVOKED

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26395, 13 April 1951, Page 7

CONSTITUTION INVOKED

Powers Used By Mr Truman

(Rec. 7 p.m.) WASHINGTON, April 11. Points in Mr Truman's favour in the controversy over General MacArthur's dismissal are believed by some observers to be so rooted in traditions of the American people as to go to a depth to which partisan politico—however glaring the publicity—seldom reach. There are many indications in the first reactions to General MacArthur's dismissal that Mr Truman will have a majority of people, probably a majority of Congress behind him, says Reuter’s Washington correspondent. Mr Truman in his announcement anchored his decision firmly upon a lection of the United States Constitution sacred to every American and drafted bv the founders of the Republic with the soecific objective of preventing victorious generals from challenging the authority of the elected representatives of the people. Even the most belligerent anti-White House Congressman would hesitate before standing as the champion of military against civilian power. Quite apart from such constitutional considerations opinion has shown signs during the last few days of turning to the view that General MacArthur had gone too far. The issue was becoming on° of peace or war. General MacArthur’s demand for the extension of the »ar beyond Korea looked like becoming an encroachment not onlv on the military powers of the President but upon the powers of Congress itself tn declare war

•’Ritter Controversy” “It is recognised that Mr Truman, in the boldest act of his career, used his full Constitutional powers as Com-mander-in-Chief to dismiss one of the country’s greatest military heroes at tile peak of his popularity. The audacious removal of General MacArthur from all his commands staggered Washington, and is bound to split the country from top to bottom in a bitter controversy a’ a time of. international crisis. Should the extreme elements of the pro-MacArthur forces call for the impeachment of Mr Truman they stand little or no chance of obtaining the required support in Congress to make that a practical proposition. The opportunities given on the surface to the pro-MacArthur Republican faction to exploit the solution for political publicity purposes, however, are immense

•nd breath-taking. For them the dismissal could be the urologue to a series 1 of dramas, potentially capable of arousing the country against Mr Truman—the spectacular possibility of the triumphal return of the dismissed war hero from San Francisco to Washington, his appearance before Congress, •nd his leadership of a political faction dedicated to the implementation of his policies in Asia. Earler to-day, Republican leaders at • secret meeting, discussed the dismissal. After the meeting Mr Joseph , Martin issued a statement in which he said, among other things, that the question of possible impeachments was discussed. Mr Martin was asked about the use of the plural “impeachments.” He replied that the plural was correct. Asked whether the subject of impeachments applied to anyone in particular, Mr Martin said it applied to anyone who had - transgressed. The Associated Press commented that the plain implication is that the Republicans felt that an impeachment move ahduld be made against the President. the Secretary of State (Mr Dean Acheson) and possibly others in me Democratic Administration.