Kankakee Valley Post, Volume 16, Number 51, DeMotte, Jasper County, 8 November 1946 — Nation Seeks Sole Rule of Army Bases [ARTICLE]

Nation Seeks Sole Rule of Army Bases

President Truman Ren affirms Pacific Setup; Follows Byrnes Request

Independence, Mo. President Truman . last night reaffirmed this country’s intention to seek sole trusteeship of the Japanese mandated islands needed in the United States security program. The Chief Executive’s erstatement of this policy coincided with a report from Washington that he had been asked to do so by Secretary of State James F. Byrnes. Mr. Truman’s position became | known here when he was asked I about the Washington dispatch which reported that he might intervene within a few days in the dispute between the State Department, which favors trusteeship, and the armed forces, which reportedly advocate ownership or permanent posession of certain of the Japanese mandates. Through his press Secretary, Charles G. Ross, the President said the government’s policy was still what he announced in a news conference at the White House last Jan. 15. At that time, the President announced that the Japanese mandated islands needed by this nation would be kept in our sole trusteeship as long as they are needed. The President explained then, however, that this nation would, of course, ask the United Nations for authority to establish sole trusteeship over the island we needed. Ross told reporters on the front lawn of Mr. Truman’s home here that “this is still the policy.” Meanewhile, the word from Washington was that Byrnes wanted quick action by the President to restate or clarify American policy before the trusteeship question comes up at the UN general assembly. Whether Mr. Truman’s brief recount of his Jan. 15 press conference filled this desire by Byrnes remained to be seen. The President definitely will make no political addresses between now and the time he votes early Tuesday morning, although his Democratic Party faces the most difficult test at the polls it has encountered in years. Whether the President will make a non-partisan appeal to the electorate to exercise its franchise tomorrow remained undetermined.