Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1944-12-02
BEHIND
News
BY Paul
MalIon

old friend James Byrnes, the
economic generalissi m o.
Twenty-four hours before the
appointment was announced
they were working ardently.
But Mr.. Roosevelt called
Foreign Relations Chairman
Tom -Connally- and Senator
George down TO the White
House a few hours before the
announcement and explained
the situation to them.
Byrnes was far TO valuable
man to be lost from economic
direction as he alone knew all
the intricacies of that fathom-
less task, and knew nothing OF
the complex development of
war-peace policies in foreign af-
fairs, while Stettinius had been
handling them for a year. That
satisfied practically every one
who required satisfaction.
The truth of the matter is
Stettinius was put into the de-
partment more than a year ago
with the idea of his elevation
to the top post in view, as
readers of this column at that
time will recall.
MR.. HULL'S health has not
AVA been so good as advertised
for some years past. While
his throat ailment did not de-
velop malignancy, the latest
diagnosis is supposed to show
diabetes, and he could not go on.
AS a matter of fact this COL
umn was able to say first under
date of Nov. z that his relin-
quishment of office for health
was one of the great changes
TO be expected out of the cleo.
ton. THE White House denied
it a few days later, as the
President then was hopeful of
at least persuading Hull to keep
his name on the office door,
More disappointed than the
Democratic senators were Vice
President Wallace's friends. He
wanted the job. 1t would have
provided a nice boost for him.
But since he has failed with
the vice presidency, and after
all the things he has said about
world affairs in the past three
years halfway to communism
is a goal for us, quart of milk
a day for every one, etc.. 1t
has been quite evident TO all
except the extreme leftist New
Deal that he was not qualified
to handle the severe difficulties
of postwar negotiations on their
currently realistic plane. I can
find no evidence Mr.. Roosevelt
even considered him for the
post.
THE supplanting of such a
l. strong, towering figure as
Mr.. Hull by a man nearly 80
years his junior is bound TO
bring some changes, although
they will come gradually.
Hull, singlehanded, and work.
ing against the politicians,
achieved whatever degree of
unity has been accomplished on
the peace. He stood for mo-
rality in the world order and
without compromise.
His department was honey
combed with intrigue against
him. The leftwingers were al
ways trying to slide him
through a trapdoor. But he
always put his foot down, blue
streaked cuss words at the
proper time. and won over them.
He is handing his department
ever to Stettinius fairly clean.
Mr.. Stettinius has the same
ideals as Hull. Wallace was
right in describing him as hav-
ing purity and purpose"
More than that he has diplo-
matte manner. While his APP
pearance is aristocratic, he gets
along with every one. His Of
flee force worships him.
Once he came before a con-
greSSional committee from a
vacation, tanned. cleanly dressed
with bow tie, his prematuerly
white hair thoroughly brushed
down. One congressman leaned
over to a colleague and whis-
pered:
"Now you see what God can
do when he really tries"
IN THE Senate they are say
Il ing Mr.. Roosevelt chose a
man dependent upon him en-
tirely for a diplomatic career,
in order that the Executive him.
self might be his own state
secretary. / do not think it
will work out that way.
Though congenial and mild
hammered. Mr.. Stettinius is
realist. Though diplomacy may
prevent him from talking facts
aloud, he knows what they are,
and never has lost sight Of
them.
He is distinctly not the sena-