The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1943-08-19

reprinted IN The Republlcan by per-
mission.
Character Count"
Washington, Aug. 16.
Despite qualified denials, obviously,
there is some truth in the printed re-
ports that Mr.. Sumner Welles will
soon be given an assignment by the
President necessitating his retirement
as Under Secretary Of State. For a
long time, the strained relations be-
tween Mr. Welles and Secretary Cor
dell Hull have indicated the Welles
retirement as desirable.
= -
Premature publication may post
pone it while but, in the opinion of
many, the step has been determined
upon by Mr.. Roosevelt and is delayed
only until it can be taken with dignity
This will not disguise from those who
know the facts that it is a forced res
ignation. If and when it comes it will
i be very real tribute to Mr.. Hull.
Perhaps, it is trite to say that Char
acter counts" but, considering all the
/ circumstances, the manner in which
the Secretary of State has survived
! very trying situation is pretty unu-
sual evidence of the truth of that old
, adage.
The history Of the Roosevelt Hull
Welles relationship constitutes an eX-
/ traordinary record. If now it ends
with the passing of Mr. Wclles to
some other sphere, a quiet triumph
will be registered for Mr.. Hula tri-
umph free from turbulence or gloat-
ing, a triumph in which the amenities
will be fully preserved, with no signs
of the bitter struggles underneath
but a triumph none the less, unmis-
taxable and complete. The big, basic
fact back of this whole business is
that Mr. Welles was not made Under
Secretary of State by Mr. Hull. Mr..
Hull knew him but slightly and never
would have chosen him. He was
named by Mr.. Roosevelt without sug-
gestion from Mr. Hull, and was re-
luctantly accepted by the latter be-
cause he had no alternative.
#*#
Mr.. Welles is a close personal friend
of the Presidents. They were boys to-
gether, schoolmates, socially Of the |
same class, personally Of the same
type, intimate family friends and con-
genial. Under the circumstances, as
! Under Secretary of State, Mr.. Welles
personal loyalty was to the Presi- !
dent, not to his immediate chief I'm
der the circumstances, too, the Presi- |
dent dealt more intimately with Mr.. !
! Weles than he did with Mr.. Hull. |
Everybody in the Administration
knew that Mr.. Welles was closer to
the President than was Mr. Hull; that !
the President enjoyed talking to the
former more than to the latter; that
there was a disposition upon the part /
Of Mr.. Roosevelt and Mr.. Welles to
regard Mr.. Hull as a man who could |
be detoured with impunity.
The natural result of all this was to /
split the State Department into fac |
| lions, create feuds and confuse its ad- |
ministrative functions. Other Of Mr. /
Hull's assistants were selected by Mr.. |
Roosevelt and Mr.. Welles. Some he /
was permitted to select himself. The !,
relations between Mr.. Hull and Mr. !
Welles were cold and conventional. |
There was not the slightest trace of |
cordiality between them. Mr.. Hull |
knew that Mr.. Welles went over his |
head to the President. But no trace !,
of resentment was ever publicly !
shown He knew, too, that Mr. Welles |
was consulted by the President on
matters of foreign policy Of which he |
was informed later. He wouldn't have
been human if he had liked that.
$3.50
Inevitably, the split in the depart
ment widencd and dcepencd Mr. Hull
was subjected to a ceaselcss snipings
upon the part Of Administration radi- /
Gals, who, with some cause, felt that
he was not a New Dealer at heart. |
In the sense that he never believed in
the unrestrained spending policies and
distrusted cockeyed theories for
making America over,' that was
true. But, patient, self-controlled and
answering Mr.. Hull attended to his |
own business, remained loyal to the
President and without effort or plan
ned publicity easily became the out
Turks, frightening the Axis by hints
to STAY on the Allied side. have al !