Press Release, Correspondence Between President Harry S. Truman and Francis Biddle

essin #1225273 IMMEDIATE RELEASE JULY 12, 1947 The President has today sent the following letter to the Honorable Francis Biddle: to gonohive oda THOY vd bas "July 12, 1947 Dear Francis: bha viorosit Your letter of June thirtieth leaves me no option but to accede to your request that your nomination as American representative on the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations be withdrawn. Accordingly, I am withdrawing your name from the Senate today. I take this action with great reluctance, and only because of your request. It is, as you say, imperative that the United States be represented in the forthcoming meeting of the Economic and Social Council. I need not tell you that my withdrawal of your name, in the circumstances described in your letter, indicates no lessening of my belief that you are highly qualified for the position in question. With my cordial regards and continued deep appre- ciation of your past services to our country, I am Very sincerely yours, /s/ HARRY S. TRUMAN" Mr. Biddle's letter to the President follows: "June 30, 1947 NARA Dear Mr. President: Last January you nominated me to be the American repre- sentative of the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations, to succeed John G. Winant. The nomination was referred to the Foreign Relations Committee of the Senate, of which Senator Vandenberg is chairman. I appeared before that Committee in executive hearing in May, and an swered in some detail questions that were put to me by the members. There have been no other hearings. It would appear that Senator Vandenberg has no in- tention of allowing my name to go to the Senate to be voted on for confirmation or rejection. I believe that no action will be taken by the Committee before Congress adjourns, presumably in about a month. I am therefore asking you to withdraw my name from the Senate. I do this for only one reason. I would prefer that the nomination be acted on by the Senate one way or the other. There has been no action on my nomination for five months. Meanwhile the Economic and Social Council met in March, and will again meet on July nineteenth. I am devoted to the principles of the United Nations, and want above all else to see them realized. If my name is not withdrawn the United States for the second time will not be repre- sented by a member on the Council, which is now engaged in studying the economic needs of Europe. Particularly in view of the meeting of the foreign ministers in Paris, and the importance of having the Council function fully in the economic crisis, it is imperative that our country be represented. For that reason alone I ask that you immediately withdraw my name from further consideration. You have previously told me that you would not do so except at my request. I am now making that request.