The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1944-12-08
Observations
Gen. Hurley, New
Envoy to China Has
Ample Background
by HELEN EssARY

The man who is going to repre-
sent the United States in troubled
China for the next few years IS
that big, dramatic Irishman Patrick
Jay Hurley. He is the man who has
had more fun out OF the last two
administrations, Republican and
New Deal. than anybody alive.
The eras OF Hoover "a plus
Roosevelt (D cover a lot Of terri
tory, calendar and drama. But by
all the blessed saints above, Pat
rick Jay Hurley has been I'm on all
the shootin' and peace.makin' OF
both the presidents.
Add 10 the eras Of Hoover and
Roosevelt the stirrin' times Of
Woodrow Wilson, the calm Of
Coolidge and the confusion OF Hard
ing and there again was Patrick
Jay Hurley, fghting, laughing.
soothing, AID saving WOOD whether
the saw that was handy was sharp
or dull.
This recent appointment TO Chi
ma. tops General Hurleys official
and unofficial missions in the far
away and generally misunderstood
East, Middle East and Near East
In addition, there were negotia-
tions in Mexico that Pat Hurley
tossed off with a flourish when oil
wells below the Rio Grande were
burning hot with trouble for Latin
American good neighborliness.
Since the second World War
the proposed new ambassador to
China has been to Australia where
he was sent TO talk the Austria.
lians into giving Macarthur the
help he needed. Next he tipped
over to Russia to see II Uncle Joe
Stain had any new peeves and
to quiet down the old ones. After
Russia, Pat Hurleys next rush
order was Iran. Iran was in
mood. A state Of indignation. Pat.
now becoming a superdiplomat
which is what he always was from
the lay he was born close by an
Oklahoma coal mine. had his usual
good luck in Iran.
As IL Iran were not enough OF an
achievement, General Hurley soon
hereafter whisked through India
for an Irishmans eye view OF
the mess there. Just 20 keep his
hand in, he next dropped in on
China.
Naturally. all these hurry calls
were Mr.. Roosevelt's idea. The
President had skipped the fact
that Pat Hurley was a strong anti
New Dealer and didn't hesitate TO
say so. Anyhow. Pat must have
said so with a broad grin. For
when he came back from his first
visit to China and reported what
he thought about the mixup there.
the President gave him WPB
Chief Donald Nelson by the hand
and sent him back for another look
see at the Chang Kai-shek neigh
borhood.
China is said by the viseacres
TO be the Siberia OF the New Deal.
A place OF exile a la Roosevelt But
Pat Hurley, from the looks Of
things, Is about to turn what has
been exile for previous political
tourists into place OF accomplish
ment. I'll bet you that before
long General Hurley will have Chi
nese generalissimos. Communists
and Fascists eating out OF his hand.
Likewise listening to his best new
stories even though they don't I'M
derstand word the big American
speaks.
People who have seen Hurley ne
gotiating in a language OF which
he could not grasp one single SEN
tence say that he listens attentive
~ to the remarks of the interpret
ers on both sides. fences, eats,
drinks and is merry with the big
shots themselves. Then adds up
all he hears, divides jy his own
wit and comes TO conclusion.
In Mexico. Pat Hurley got on
with President Camacho after a
score OF other Americans had fall
ed. Mexican friends report that
he got" Camacho. Turned his IN
tuition and his curiosity on the
Mexican president and was able to
speak his language without know
ing a word OF Spanish. Pat has
knack, I'hear OF putting his feet
u, on the table, roaring over
good Joke in any non.understand.
able dialect and meanwhile keeping
a straight back, a stiff upper lip
and his mind on his Job.
There are many legends about
the early mining days OF the new
ambassador, some OF which concern
John L. Lewis. Other Legends
about Pats failure to get into III
Spanish-American war because o.
his youth He emerged from the
FIRST World War a colonel Prac-
ticed law. later became Hoovers
3 sistant Secretary OF War and
later war secretary.