McCarthy Praises President

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31645, 3 April 1968, Page 15

McCarthy Praises President

(N.Z. P. A.-Reuter—Copyright) MILWAUKEE (Wisconsin), April 2. President Johnson had earned honour and respect from all Americans for the way he had linked his Vietnam policy change with his decision to retire from the White House, Senator Eugene McCarthy said in Milwaukee yesterday in a nationally-televised address.

“If he had spoken . . . only about a de-escalation of the war, people would have said he had done that only because of the . . . (primary) election in Wisconsin," he said.

Senator McCarthy said: “1 might have been tempted to suggest there was a coincidental relationship. “But the President’s speech could very well have been his most direct and positive action ... in the interest of the United States, “He left no doubt that his commitment was to peace by announcing tie would not be a candidate for re-election." Senator McCarthy expressed great satisfaction over his showing in New Hampshire last month because so many people there were dependent on war production for the livelihood and might have cast a “war hawk” vote against him. “I would have been deeply shocked if I had discovered that this was the response," he said. “But the results proved that they were decent judgments made not in their own interests but in the national interest.”

Discussing foreign policy, Senator McCarthy said it was vital the United States maintain a strong military presence in Western Europe to reassure its allies and let the Russians know the Americans would be there for some time. He also said the United States must maintain the important commitments it had

in Asia generally, continue its interests in Latin America, help to develop Africa, and at the same time concern itself with tackling urgent domestic problems, including poverty, housing, education and health.