MacARTHUR'S POLITICS

Chronicle (Levin), 11 March 1948, Page 5

MacARTHUR'S POLITICS

. (N2.P.AA

-Reuter,

May Oppose Truman For Party Nomination

, Cppyriaht)

E.eceived Wednesday, 9.55 p.m. " NEW Y.OEK, Mar.ch 9. • Ceaeral MacArthur loomexl tomght ; AOt only as tlre Presidential candidate : but also as a possible opponent to Presidenf Trujnau for the Pemocratic Party nomination. Tlie Mayor of Boston (Mr. J. AL Curley), former lDemoefatic Governor of Massachussetts aird a member of the Democratic National : Comuiittee, said General MacArthur 's : nante vvould be presented to the Demo- : cratic National Convention. Geaeral MacArthur 's decjsion to accept nomination if otfered followed .the insertion of his nam,p in the Wiscousin Kepublican Party raee, but he did not specify aJlegianee to either party. In T.okio today General MacArthur announced that he would no,t discuss politics with correspondents. He said the Allie.d occupation of Japan wodld not change in the slightest as a result of his entry into the Aniei'ican [lolitical campaign. Tlie announcement was made th rough Colonel Echols, Public Informatior.

Officer. It declinod correspondents' requests foi? a special press coiiferenee and for new pictur.es of the general. Colonel Echols said General MaeArthur's statement. of his willingness to accept the Presidency was nuule in his capacitv as a private citizen and he had nothing to add to it. , . ■ i American newspapers express liftio i surprise over either General' Mac- • Authur 's or President Truman 's , decir sion to stand for the Presidency. The Xew Vork .WorldfTelegram savs: "Nobody shouid have b.ee,n surprised at; yesterday 's annou.ucement .fr/jun ,, t;he.| White Ilouse. It ncw appears that despite the turmoii within.the Democratic Party their convention will .have to nominate President Truman. ' ' Tlie New York Kun comments: " If President Truman eaiinot win nobody else oii his side can. General MacArthur 's announcement was to be e'xp.ected. • It is in keeping "with -his character. " I The St . Louis Post-Dispatch says: t "General MacArthur has no compunction about going directlv from the j Arniy to the White House. Tlie nation : will feel no special elation as a result of the Tokio conimunique. " | If General MacArthur wins the Eepublican Presideutjal noiuination he ' will have to retire from the A'rniv to ; campaign. This is provided for in a ; joint Armv-Navy agreement signed on March 10, 1944, and is still eft'ective.