ASKED TO RESIGN

Greymouth Evening Star, 21 September 1946, Page 5

ASKED TO RESIGN

Truman’s Request to Wallace NO CHANGE IN FOREIGN POLICY (Recd. 10.25 a.m.) WASHINGTON, September 20. President Truman has asked the Secretary for Commerce, Mr. Henry Wallace to resign. Mr. Truman told a press conference to-day that there was no change in the Government’s foreign policy. He reiterated his complete confidence in the Secretary of State, Mr. Byrnes. Standing before the crowded news conference, Mr. Truman slowly read the following statement“ The foreign policy of this country is the most important question confronting ns today. Our responsibility for obtaining a just and lasting peace extends not only to the people of this country but to the world. The people of the, United States may disagree freely and publicly in any question, including foreign policy, but the Government must stand as a unit in its relations with the rest of the ■world; “I have to-day asked Mr. Wallace to resign. It had become clear that between his views on foreign policy and those of the Administration —the latter being shared, I am confident, by the great body of our citizens —there was a fundamental conflict. We could not permit this conflict to jeopardise our position in relation to other countries. “I deeply regret breaking a long and pleasant official assoelation, but I am sure Mr. Wallace will be happier in the exercise of the right to present his views as a private citizen.”

After saying that he had had a “very friendly” telephone conversation with Mr. Wallace, this morning, the President added: “No change in our foreign policy is contemplated. No member in the executive branch of the Government will make any public statement on foreign policy which is in conflict with our established foreign policy, and public statements on foreign policy shall be cleared with the State Department. In a case of disagreement the matter will be referred to me.

“As I have frequently said, I haOe complete confidence in Mr. Byrnes and his delegation. Mr. Byrnes consults me often and the policies which guide him and his delegation have my full endorsement.”

After a telephone talk with the President, Mr. Wallace sent him a letter, saying: “Dear Harry—As you. requested, here is my resignation. I shall continue to fight for peace. I am. sure you will approve and will join me in that great endeavour.” Mr. James Forrestal, Secretary for the Navy, is the only remaining Roosevelt appointee in the Cabinet,. Mr. Wallace was the last of the original New Deal secretaries. In Paris Mr. Byrnes refused to comment on Mr. Wallace’s resignation, but members of his entourage, when asked his reactions when he heard the news, said: “Well, he didn’t look displeased.” , The chairman of the New York Communist Party (Mr. William Foster), addressing a rally at- Madison Square Garden, expressed the view that Mr. Wallace was correct in pointing with alarm to the present American foreign policy. The danger of war was acute because the Truman administration had abandoned Mr. Roosevelt’s policy of Big Three collaboration and surrendered to Wall street imperialists, he said.