Talk & Ceremony

White House reporters were on their way out of the President's office with the week's gist of press conference news. Suddenly he halted them, smiled apologetically, announced that he had another special message to Congress.

This one--his sixth since taking office--turned out to be a long (8,000 words) review of the war and a restatement of reconversion policies. It was notable chiefly for a stern warning to Japan that unconditional surrender is, and will remain, the firm U.S. policy. Said the President: the U.S. will double its forces now in the Pacific, will hurl against Japan an army greater than the 3,000,000-man force which helped crush the Wehnnacht. Significantly, next day brought word that famed, fighting Admiral "Bull" Halsey was back in the Pacific with his redoubtable Third Fleet (see WORLD BATTLEFRONTS).

Ceremony. Harry Truman had other duties during the week. He handed out three medals, paid tribute to a well-known war hero.

P:To dark-skinned Prince Abdul Illah, regent of friendly Iraq, he presented the medal of the Legion of Merit.

P:To flabbergasted Steve Early, summoned to the White House lawn just before his departure to private life, he awarded the Distinguished Service Medal. As a Reserve lieutenant colonel, Steve Early, White House press secretary for twelve Roosevelt years, was eligible for such a military honor.

P:For General Mark W. Clark, victorious in the long, tough Italian campaign, he penned a testimonial: "To a great American general. ... Best wishes from CinC. Harry Truman."

P:For Mrs. Annie Reid Knox he read a citation of the late Navy Secretary Frank Knox's war record, vicariously presented him with a posthumous Medal for Merit.

The President also appointed as Ambassador to Peru swashbuckling, dark-haired William Douglas Pawley, 48, who built airplanes in China and India, helped get the Flying Tigers started.

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