NOT DECISIVE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 88, Issue 94, 21 April 1944, Page 2

NOT DECISIVE

MACARTHUR’S STATEMENT AS TO PRESIDENCY Sydney, April 19. “General MacArthur’s statement is couched in lofty language, but it "sadly lacks the decisiveness of the reply given by an earlier American general —Sherrnan, of civil war fame. When General Sherman was proposed as a Presidential candidate he declared categorically: ‘lf I am nominated I will not run; if I am elecred I will not serve.’ ” Thi« comment is made by the Sydney Morning Herald to-day, reviewing lhe possibility of General MacArthur’s Presidential candidacy. The paper adds that as long ago as last December it was suggested that while General MacArthur’s possible ncminaticn was a matter strictly between him ?nd hi* own American fellow citizens, prolonged uncertainty as to his own attitude was undesirable, since it might prejudice the South-Wfst Pacific theatre of operations. Referring to the letters written by General MaeAJh-ir to Senator Miller, the Herald sayr “The fact, that these were published bv Mr. Miller snows how how undesirable it is Liat a commander in lhe field should even so much as exchange political views with violent enronents of the President, who is the commander-in-chief of the United States forces. Politics and active soldiering cannot but mix indifferently, if at all. and in the conflict the command itself is always liable to suffer either through antagonism aroused at home, or in other wavs. While it is for General MacArthur to decide in what capacity he can best serve his country, we in Australia can legitimately express the hope that his splendid work in the South-west Pacific should not be compromised by continuing uncertainty regarding his relation to the Presidential contest.”