VICE-PRESIDENT

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 25046, 9 November 1944, Page 5

VICE-PRESIDENT

CAREER OF MR TRUMAN WAR COMMITTEE'S WORK The new Vice-President of the United States, Senator Harry S. Truman, of Missouri, who has defeated the llepublican nominee, Mr J. W. Bricker, Governor of Ohio, is best known as chairman of a Senate committee set up early in 1942 to investigate defence contracts. It was claimed subsequently that the committee had saved millions of dollars by defecting fraud and waste, and it won a reputation for efficiency.

Mr Truman, who is 59, served with an artillery regiment in France in the la-h war and reached the rank of major. He opened a haberdashery shop in Kansas City, but the business failed in 1921. He then turned to political friends for help, and the Democratic Party machine obtained appointments for him first as road overseer and then as county Judge. He was elected to the Senate in 1934 and again in 1940. Articles on Mr Roosevelt and Mr Dewey appear on page 3.

ATTITUDE TO RUSSIA SWISS DENY PREJUDICE (Recti. 5.35 p m.) LONDON, Nov. 7 The Swiss Government, in a statement, denies that Switzerland has followed an anti-ltussian policy. The statement says that the Swiss Ambassador, M. Reugger, initiated talks in London aimed at establishing closer Swiss and Russian relations. The Soviet Ambassador, M. Gusey, replied on November 1 breaking off the negotiations, and arguing that the Swiss Government had in no way renounced its anti-Russian policy. The statement adds:' "The reproach of an anti-Russian policy cannot really be maintained by anyone truly informed of the attitude of the Swiss Government and tho Swiss people. The facts are so transparent that eventually tho Soviet Government will have no option hut to accept them. The Swiss Government does not intend to change the attitude leading up to the negotiations which have now been interrupted. This attitude corresponds with Switzerland's general aim to maintain peaceful relations with all States.

RULE IN GUATEMALA (Rerd. 0.30 p.m.) WASHINGTON. Nov. 7 The Under-Secretary of State, Mr E. R. Stettinius, announced that the United States has recognised the revolutionary Government of Guatemala. The Associated Press points out that the new Government held Congressional elections last week and described them as the first free elections in Guatemala 8 history.