BAN ON POLITICS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 April 1943, Page 2

BAN ON POLITICS

IN THE AMERICAN ARMY NOT AIMED AT GENERAL MACARTHUR. STATEMENT BY MR. STIMSON. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) NEW YORK, April 8. The allegation that the regulation prohibiting men on active service from accepting public office was specifically aimed at' eliminating General. MacArthur from possible consideration as Presidential candidate for 1944 was made by representatives Marion Bennett and Hamilton Fish. “I do not know whether General MacArthur would consider the Republican ticket,’ said Mr. Fish, “but I am quite sure the Government has no power to dictate to Americans whom they should nominate for the Presidency.” The “New York Daily News” reveals that the regulation was dated February 25, but not published till April 6. “The order is a wise one,’’/says the paper. “General MacArthur’s place for the duration is at the fighting front where his military genius has full scope. It is true that General MacArthur reaches the compulsory, retiring age in January, but the President is empowered to order him to retain his command.” The army regulations banning political activity by soldiers were not aimed at General MacArthur or anyone, « said the Secretary of War, Mr. Stimson, at his Press conference today. He explained that the regulations embodied War Department policy adopted in 1925 for the maintenance of the traditional American policy that no one should exercise both civil and military authority simultaneously. The latest regulation did not alter previous policy, but merely restated it. * Mr. Stimson opined that the policy was wise and necessary in war time. The regulation was not discussed with the Whit® House and no one outside the department was consulted regarding its preparation. Reporters asked specifically about public references to the regulation being designed to prevent any Presidential boom for General MacArthur. Mr. Stimson replied: “I can tell you with great explicitness that we have not had General MacArthur in mind at'all.”

Mr. Stimson said the new regulation would not preclude the possibility of service men being discharged or placed on the retired list to run for office. Thus, if General MacArthur desired to run for the Presidency—and there was no indication that he did —he could apply to the War Department for relief from active duty.