Evening star., 1944-11-28
Mr.. Hull Steps Down


With the decision of Cordell Hull,
for compelling reasons of health, to
put aside the burdens that he has
carried for nearly twelve years as
Secretary of State, the world has
lost a public servant who exercised
powerful and constructive inf1u-
ence in behalf of the things he
believed to be right
Mr.. Hull is plain man, as unpre-
tentious as the Tennessee environ
ment from which he came. Yet he
brought to the State Department
quiet forcefulness and a sympa-
thetic understanding OF fundamental
truths which enabled him to progress
steadily toward the larger goals OF
mankind, even when their attain
ment seemed far beyond reach.
Mr.. Hull's years in Congress are
notable for his work in behalf of
the Federal income tax and his un-
remitting efforts in behalf of a tariff
program based on recognition of the
fact that world trade consists OF
buying as well as selling, that the
other nations could not take olAr
products unless we were prepared to
buy theirs. When he went to the
State Department in 1888 the world
was deep in depression which had
resulted in part from blind adher-
ence to economic policies which he
firmly believed to be wrong. So Mr..
Hull, in his direct way, set about
the task of repairing the damage
which had been done. After the
failure of the London Economic
Conference, he turned to his pro-
gram of reciprocal trade agreements,
and was able to make substantial
headway, both in political and an
economic sense.
Before many years had passed,
however, it became evident that a
graver menace was abroad In the
world, that the most urgent problem
was not to restore trade, but to pre-
vent war. To that end he devoted
himself with courage and wisdom,
striving for acceptance of the prin-
ciples without which the world could
not hope to live In peace. That mis-
takes were made may be granted,
but the eventual failure to maintain
peace may not fairly be attributed
to any fault of his. A small band
of fanatical men, possessed of the
means of waging war, were deter
mined to conquer the world, and
they were not to be restrained by
any influence in behalf of peace
which Mr. Hull could bring to bear.
But now the men who aspired to live
by the sword have about run their
course. The peace-loving peoples for
whom Mr.. Hull was a spokesman
reluctantly accepted the battle which
was forced upon them, and they
stand now at the threshold Of final
victory.
That being the case, it is the more
regrettable that Mr.. Hull must step
aside at this particular time. During
even the darkest periods of the war
he was working diligently in behalf
of that lasting peace which he con-
ceived to be the true fruit of victory,
and the splendid record which has
been made is the best evidence Of
the success that he has enjoyed.
Unfortunately, however, Mr.. Hull
leaves the State Department at a
period when much remains to be
done. The peace for which he has
striven is not yet assured. Many an
obstacle must be surmounted, both
in our domestic affairs and in our
relations with the other countries,
before there can be an end to the
task upon which he has labored for
so long.
To succeed Mr.. Hull, the President
has chosen Edward r. Stettinius, jr.,
Undersecretary of State, and there
is general agreement that the choice
is good one. In background, in
temperament and in method, the
two men have little in common. Yet
Mr.. Hull and Mr.. Stettinius have
worked well together, and there is
every reason to believe that the
latter will carry on efficiently and
faithfully the policies inaugurated
by his predecessor.