Kennedy May Appoint Roving Ambassador

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29401, 31 December 1960, Page 13

Kennedy May Appoint Roving Ambassador

PALM BEACH (Florida), December 30. The United States President-elect, Mr John Kennedy, has announced that he is considering the appointment of a roving ambassador who would help strengthen American ties with new nations.

His Ambassador-at-large would substitute for .personal visits by Chiefs of State. He told reporters last night about meetings at Palm Beach yesterday with Senator J. William Fulbright (Democrat, Arkansas). Mr Kennedy gave no hint about whom he might name for the job, but the “New York Times” said today that a former United States Ambassador to Great Britain and the Soviet Union, Mr Averell Harriman, was favoured for the post.

Mr Kennedy and Senator Fulbright, who is chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, told reporters they had discussed a sweeping range of domestic and international affairs.

Mr Kennedy said they discussed matters of mutual concern in the area of both foreign and domestic affairs that were of special concern in the light of the United States recession.

They said they both agreed on the need for • putting United States economic aid to friendly countries on a long-term basis to increase the effectiveness of the programme. The President-elect said a number of new countries were extremely important to the United States and it was difficult for their Heads of State tc visit America and there were limits to the usefulness of travel by the American President. But communication was essential, he said, and an ambassador-at-large could provide it. Mr Kennedy, in answer to questions, said he might reach a decision on an . ambassador-at-large in a few days. Asked whether the choice might be President Eisenhower. Mr Kennedy said: “No. No. Oh, no.” Mr Harriman, who recently undertook a roving assignment for Mr Kennedy in Africa, saw the President-elect earlier this week. He is on holiday in Hobe Sound, near Palm Beach. Asked later whether he was under consideration for the roving post Mr Harriman declined to comment.

Mr Kennedy also said he believed the selection of qualified

ambassadors should go beyond the career foreign service and include men of high competence from other walks of life. He strongly endorsed the idea of providing sufficient funds so that the best qualified person could be named to an embassy without regard for his personal fortune.

Senator Fulbright suggested methods of stimulating the export of Ameriean agricultural products, including poultry, as one way of helping the domestic economy. Mr Kennedy said he would not begin to name his ambassadors until after he took office on January 20. Senator Fulbright promised the speediest consideration Of the appointments by the Senate Foreign Relations Co'mmittee.

Mr Kennedy and Senator Fulbright discussed methods of making the United States Information Service more effective.

Caroline Causes A Diversion PALM BEACH (Florida), December 30. Three-year-old Caroline Kennedy last night broke up a press conference. Her father, the United States President-elect, Mr John Kennedy, was making a statement on the purpose of a roving ambassador. Wearing a blue dressing gown over pink pyjamas, and carrying a pair of her mother’s shoes. Caroline wandered into the patio of the Kennedys’ home, shouting. “Daddy.” The President-elect stopped. Then, while he grasped Caroline by one hand to lead her off. the girl slipped on her mother's shoes and awkwardly walked away. She complained: "I want to see my daddy.’’ while reporters laughed and press and television cameramen recorded the inversion.