AMBASSADOR TO AUSTRALIA

Timaru Herald, Volume CLIII, Issue 22476, 11 January 1943, Page 5

AMBASSADOR TO AUSTRALIA

Mr Roosevelt Makes An Appointment Bitter Press Comment N.Z.P.A.—Special Australian Correspondent (8 p.m.) NEW YORK, Jan. 9. Mr Edward J. Flynn announced his resignation as chairman of the National Democratic Committee to become Ambassador and personal representative of Mr Roosevelt as Minister Plenipotentiary in Australia. Both the “New York Times” and the “Herald Tribune” oppose the appointment of Mr Flynn based on his Involvement in a public scandal last March, when he was charged with having lavishly paved his private courtyard with city-owned Belgian blocks and city labour. The secretary of the New York Citizens’ Committee comments: “It is shocking to learn that the road to Australia is paved with Belgian blocks." Tire “Herald-Tribune,” in a leader, deplores the fact that Mr Roosevelt should send to Australia “a very ordinary politician with extraordinary hard luck in the matter of paving stones.” It adds that even if the Senate rejects Mr Flynn, Mr Roosevelt will still be bearing the onus of the worst appointment of his career. It also declares that the appointment of Mr Flynn is an insult to the people of the United States and Australia. The “New York Times” says it is virtually certain that attempts will be made in the Senate to block confirmation of Mr Flynn’s nomination. The special correspondent of the New Zealand Press Association in Sydney says that a few hours after the American announcement that Mr Flynn would come to Australia as Mr Roosevelt’s personal representative, Mr Nelson T. Johnson, American Minister at Canberra for the last 16 months, said he was returning home very soon and would retire from the diplomatic service. Mr Flynn has stated he expects to leave the United States early in February and that his commission is “more or less a roving one throughout the South Pacific.” It is believed that New Zealand is included in the area. Breaking precedent when he announced himself as "Minister plenipotentiary and Mr Roosevelt’s representative in Australia,” Mr Flynn had declared his duties would not overlap those of Mr Johnson. In November, 1941, a Bronx County Grand Jury investigated reports that paving stones owned by New York City had been used to pave the courtyard of Mr Flynn’s estate at Lake Mahopac, Upper New York State, where Mr and Mrs Roosevelt had been guests. Known as the Sage of Bronx, Mr Flynn, a handsome six-footer and one of America's best dressed men, has been active in politics since 1917 and has been a keen worker for Mr Roosevelt during all his Presidential terms. There has been no Australian comment on Mr Flynn’s appointment, which has not yet been officially confirmed here.