Evening star., 1944-12-05
State Department
Recognizing Hailed
Indicates New Requirements in
World Problems, Says Writer
By David La,crence

VOIlu 1IODlCIIlS, DAYS "IItCI
By David La,vrence
President Roosevelt has certainly
moved in the right direction In re-
organizing the State Department. Yet
the term reorganization" does not mean
in the slightest degree a reflection on
the personnel who have served so ably
In the past. 1t is rather an indication
of the new requirements that are de-
veloping out Of the extraordinary world
situation.
In the old days, the State Depart
ment dealt primarily with diplomatic
problems. Today, business and eco
nomic questions overshadow all else.
The entire diplomatic service of the
United States is probably due for a
reorganization. Again this does not
mean that the many men who have
served ably in the foreign service are
to be replaced, but merely that if the
United States is to play the role in
world affairs that is logical outgrowth
of her position in this war, it will be
necessary to expand the embassies and
legations everywhere so as to make
them responsive to the new needs in
foreign policy.
Looking toward that objective, Herbert
Hoover, as the head of the Commerce
Department, once developed a system
OF commercial attaches, but in the course
of time a conflict came between the
strictly diplomatic and the strictly busi-
ness aspects of an embassy or legation.
and Congress, at the outset of the
Roosevelt administration, wrecked what
had been accomplished on the business
side Of foreign relations.
Realistically Solved.
Somewhat the same kind of differ
ences have arisen from time to time be-
tween persons representing, for example,
the Office of the Co-ordinator of Inter-
American Affairs and the regular diplo-
matte representatives of the United
States in Latin American countries.
President Roosevelt has realistically
solved the problem by vesting In the
State Department complete authority
Tor the conduct of foreign affairs, but
at the same time putting into that de-
partment men experienced in economic
matters SO that the department will be
able better to represent the many inter-
ests arising in international affairs.
Thus the State Department has ahead
| OF 1t international agreements that must
be negotiated in categories important to
| American business such as shipping,
| communications, food distribution and
cartels, as we'll as aviation. MANY of
the men in our foreign service who have
| been trained in the field of diplomacy
nave not had the background of busi-
ness experience, but at the same time
! there are certain traditions which are
essential for every embassy and lega-
ton to maintain. 1t is much easier to
introduce men into the State Depart
ment who can learn the technique Of
international relations than it Is to
educate diplomatic officers in the in
trlcacles OF modern business and es-
pecially international trade,
Strong Advisers.
In selecting Joseph c. Grew to be
Undersecretary of State, President
Roosevelt has recognized that one of the
most important questions ahead of us is
what to do about Japan and China after
the war. To have an experienced diplo-
mat like Mr.. Grew who has served 50
many years in the Far East is to lend
immediate leadership to the develop
ment of Far Eastern program.
! In selecting Nelson Rockefeller to be
Assistant Secretary of State it is ap-
| parent that the entire Office of Inter-
American Affairs will be merged with the
department under Mr.. Rockefeller's
! leadership.
William Clayton. one of the ablest
men who has ever come into public
service in Washington from the business
world, is to be another Assistant sSecre-
tary, and will deal with economic mat
| tiers.
Archibald MacLelsh, another newly
appointed Assistant Secretary, is to de.
vote himself largely to public and cul-
tural questions" in the State Depart.
ment-an abstract-looking phrase, but
1t covers multitude of pressing prob
lens from religious and refugee inter-
ests to the dissemination of informa-
ton about the United States in foreign
countries
All in all, the President has selected
a group of advisers for the new Secre-
tary of State, Edward R. Stettinius. who
will indeed strengthen the department.
1t is especially gratifying that the Offce
Of American Affairs has been
merged with the State Department. be-
cause it means that many of the con-
structive experiments carried on by
Nelson Rockefeller will be continued
and that Latin American relations will
not be left again to drift as they were
after the last war.
The reorganization of the State De-
partment has been planned for a long
time and Secretary Hull intended an
expansion very much along the lines
of that which has just been announced.
Reproduction Rights ReservedJ
IA