Evening star., 1943-09-20

fairs, the National Capital has
assumed that the President was
holding up the announcement Of
Mr.. Wlles' resignation so that
he could couple it with an appoint
ment to another important post.
The opportunity for such an an
nouncement of transfer is now
available as result of the circum-
stances surrounding the arrange
ments for a three-power conference
of high officials of Russia, Britain
and the United States soon to be
held at Moscow
Secretary of State Hull is said
to be anxious to attend the con-
ference, but that his physicians
have advised against the exhausting
and nerve-wracking days that
would have to be spent in airplane
journeys to Moscow. If the con-
ference were to be held in London
the situation, it Is thought, might
have been different and Mr.. Hull
would attend, but the Russian
Foreign Minister rightly has con-
tended that since he had to consult
Marshal Stain frequently the meet
Ing would be more likely to be pro-
ductive OF good results if it were
held In Moscow from which point
Mr.. Stain has been unable to de-
part on conference trips abroad
because he Is in personal command
every moment of the vast military
operations of the Soviet Army.
Would Prefer Naval Duty.
The news that Admiral Standley,
American Ambassador to Russia, is
returning to the United States is
associated with the fact that the
admiral has on more than one
occasion indicated his desire to
return to America and leave the
diplomatic service. He was formerly
chief Of naval operations and
undoubtedly would prefer to be on
active duty in the naval service.
The unfortunate internal situation
in the Department of State which
contributed to the resignation of Mr..
Welles need not be reviewed except
to comment that the so-called diff
ferences OF opinion on major policies
such as on our attitude toward Rus
sia are largely imaginary because it
is well known that not a single
step of significance in the conduct
OF foreign policy has been taken
without the knowledge and full ap-
proval of President Roosevelt.
Mr.. Welles has doubtless been
ambitious to succeed Secretary Hull
believing that the latter might re-
tire because of age. Always, when
an undersecretary is thinking of sue
ceeding, his chief cliques and groups
form inside a department and fric-
tion arises.
Hull Truly Great.
Cordell Hull is one of the truly
great Secretaries of State and, like
his colleague, Secretary of War Stim-
son, his usefulness has not been i'm
paired by his advancing years. In
deed, his vigor and tenacious cling
ing to the fundamentals of Ameri-
can policy in its relations with
foreign governments have made his
record Of the last decade a remark
able and enviable one. He is re-
spected abroad and at home. He
now will need in place of Mr.. Welles
An active administrator as Undersec-
retary and a career diplomat like
Norman Armour, American Ambas-
sador to Argentina, who has had
wide experience and has an espe-
cially pleasing personality, has been
mentioned.
Mr.. Welles' talents are much too
; valuable to be lost to the United
States and If he can be prevailed
upon by the President to become
American Ambassador to Moscow
with perhaps special charge of our
relations with the Balkans countries
as problems related to the peace
arise there a useful appointment
could be made. His first task would
then be to represent the United
States at the three-power conference
at Moscow and thereafter carry on
duties in connection with the manv
complicated but vital agreements
that will doubtless flow from such a
conference and require a trained
diplomat like Mr. Welles to helu