NEW ARMY DECREE

Waikato Times, Volume 132, Issue 22009, 10 April 1943, Page 5

NEW ARMY DECREE

2 NOT AIMED AT MACARTHUR (United Press Assn. —Elec. Tel. Copyright) ’ WASHINGTON, April 8 1 “The army regulations banning political activity by soldiers is not j aimed at General MacArthur or i anyone,” said Mr H. Stimson at his _ I press conference today. _ i He explained that the regulations l j embodied the War Department’s pol- » icy adopted in 1925 for the mainten--3 ance of the traditional American polt; icy' that no one should exercise both _ I civil and military authority simul- ” taneously. 'The latest regulation did not alter the previous policy, but merely restated it. Mr Stimson considered that the policy was wise and necessary in wartime. He said the regulation j was not discussed with the White House and no one outside the department was consulted regarding its preparation. 3 Reporters asked specifically about > the public references to the regulad j tion being designed to prevent any t Presidential boom for General MacArthur. Mr Stimson replied: “I can tell you with great explicitness that it had not had General MacArthur in mind at all.” Mr Stimson said the new regulation would not preclude the possibility of servicemen being discharged or placed on the retired list to run for office, thus if General MacArthur desired to run for the Pre- ! sidency, and there was no indication | that he does, he could apply to the IWar Department for relief from active duty.