MR ACHESON STATES FOREIGN POLICY AND ATTITUDE TO RUSSIA

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26980, 15 January 1949, Page 7

MR ACHESON STATES FOREIGN POLICY AND ATTITUDE TO RUSSIA

NZPA—Copyright Rec. 8.30 p.m. WASHINGTON, Jan. 13. The United States Secretary of Stateelect. Mr Dean Acheson, to-day declared his firm determination to pursue “ steadiness and continuity ” in American foreign policy and to follow the example of Mr George Marshall in relations with Russia. Mr Acheson, testifying before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which is considering his nomination to the post of Secretary of State, said he had worked as Under-secretary under Mr Marshall and Mr James Byrnes, and as Assistant Secretary under Mr Cordell Hull and Mr Edward Stettinius. Mr ’Acheson said the President was primarily responsible for United States policy, and that Mr Truman had said that he did not anticipate any change whatever in United States foreign policy. Alleged Association With Hiss Senator Arthur Vandcnberg asked Mr Acheson to comment on the allegation made some time ago by the former Assistant Secretary of State, Mr Adolph Berle. that Mr Acheson was associated with Alger Hiss in 1944 in pressing for a conciliatory attitude to Russia. Hiss has been accused of acting as a Communist agent, and is now awaiting trial on charges of perjury in his testimony given before the Neva York grand jury investigating alleged spying activities. Mr Acheson said of Alger Hiss: “ We became friends, and we are friends.” Mr Acheson said he had direct departmental communication with Alger'Hiss for only two months in 1948. It was a brother, Donald Hiss, who was his executive assistant. Mr Acheson read extracts from speeches which he said indicated his attitude towards United States policy and Russia. In November, 1945. he had declared that there was no reason for a lack of friendship between? Russia and the United States, but this lack of friendship existed. He said a subsequent statement by him that Russia vyas pursuing an aggressive expansionist policy had brought a protest from the Russian Government. No Appeasement Policy Mr Acheson pledged himself to a “no appeasement ” policy towards Russia, and said he would ,see that subversives were kept out of the State Department. The committee chairman. Senator Tom Connally, .predicted after the hearing that Mr Acheson would win Senate confirmation by a very large vote. ■