Evening star., 1943-02-19
Hurley Leads Field
OF Possible Choices
For Australia Post
u. S. Minister Johnson
Holds Conberro Job as
Political Lame Duck
BY HELEN LOMBARD.

The choice of a new envoy foI
Australia is going to be made soor
and Washington is full of rumor'
about the possible successor to Mel.
son Johnson. Gen. Patrick j. Hur-
ley, President Hoover's Secretary OF
War and Mr.. Rooseyelts Minister
to New Zealand, is being promi-
nently mentioned.
Minister johnson has asked fol
his retirement. Even had Mr.. John
son not reached retirement age, he
could hardly be left in Canberra
after President Roosevelt had aC-
tually named his successor and the
Australian government had given
It's agreement
Even though Edward J. Flynn did
not get the post, the fact that he
was actually named puts Mr., John
son in the difficult position of being
lame duck envoy. While no dip
lomat can be expected to pull a
diplomatic rabbit out of a silk hat
a wrong choice can do harm as was
shown in the Flynn case. Gambler
ra, like Chungking, is more con-
cerned about strategy than about
diplomatic moves and undoubtedly
would swap any ambassador offered
Tor 1000 planes.
At the same time, there is no use
adding a diplomatic ineptitude to
R military slight, and Canberra is
said to be awaiting Washington s
new choice with considerable inter-
est. Having agreed to accept Mr..
Flynn, who later turned out to be
unacceptable to the American pub
lie, Australia now must be assured
that she is getting a diplomatic
best" from the U. S. A.
Pat" Hurley was extremely sue
cessful in his recent Russian tour.
He managed to persuade informa-
tion-stlngy Premier Joseph Stain
to allow him to visit the active fight
Ing fronts at Stalingrad, the Don
and the Caucasus. This fact is con-
eidered little less than a diplomatic
miracle.
Though Gen. Hurley would pre-
Ter an actual fighting job, he is said
TO be willing to consider the Aus
tralian diplomatic post because of
its military Importance and stategic
Interest. His old friendship with
Gen. Douglas Macarthur, who was
chief of staff when Mr.. Hurley was
Secretary of War, is an added in
ducement to work in that area.
Another important post, which has
become vacant through the death
Of Minister j. Pierrepont Moffat. is
reviving the old controversy of po-
htical versus career men as ambas-
sadors.
Case for Career Men.
The State Department has an ex-
cellent talking point in the Ottawa
case. Mr.. Moffat's predecessor,
James Cromwell, a political ap-
pointee, performed no diplomatic
miracles in Canada. The career men
are less likely to be dynamic than
the political appointees, but they
are also less likely to break china.
Ray Atherton, the present chief
va WV bICdAI blflSsOIl Ol LIlP
State Department and a career man. |
may be sent to Ottawa. Mr.. Ather-
ton served for more than 10 years
rs counselor and charge daffaires
n London. Later, he served as
to Bulgaria, a position
which he had to relinquish in order
o make room for former Gov.
George Earle of Pennsylvania. who
aimed international fame by slug
ing a Nazi over the head with a
hampagne bottle in a night club
n Sofia.
Mr.. Atherton was sent later to /
2enmark, which he left soon after
ne Nazis entered that country. His
ong experience in England, his
ommand of the French language. !