Evening star., 1944-12-12

kESGWpEN w trAA.
ing posts for our foreign policy In
the days ahead"
The Secretary said one of the first
requirements was to build up the
strength of the department so that
it will be able to meet the much
heavier responsibilities which II
must from now on assume"
First Steps Taken Earlier.
He said that during the last year
first steps have been taken te
strengthen the department and tc
improve the organization.
Our plan," he said, calls. for SIX
Assistant Secretaries of State in ad-
dition to the Secretary and the Un.
dersecretary. At your invitation, the
team which the President and ]
have chosen to assist me in directing
the department is with me here
today. The nominations of six ol
them are now before you for con.
firmation. I welcome this oppor.
tunity to present them to you anc
to discuss with you their qualifica-
tionS."
Mr. Stettinius said he considered
each of them wholly qualified by
character, experience and abilities.
He said, too, that he believed thai
each of them whole -heartedly sup
ports the principles and objectives
of the foreign policy of the United
States, as expressed by the Presi-
dent, Mr.. Hull and Congress.
Commends Grew First.
He gave his first commentator to
MI. Grew, who has been appointed
Undersecretary.
He has devoted 40 years to serv-
ing our country with great distinc-
tion and honor in the conduct OF
our foreign relations in all parts OF
the world" he said.
He pointed out that Mr. Grew had
previously served three years as Un-
dersecretary of State and more re-
Gently nine years as Ambassador to
Japan.
Mr. StetCinius also gave his COM
mendat1on to Assistant Secretary of
State Dean Acheson. the holdover
Assistant Secretary.
Pointing out the geographical divi-
sions of the department will be re-
grouped under two Assistant Secre-
taries, one for all countries except
the Americas, and the other for
American republics, Mr.. Stettinius
said the first position would be oc-
cupied by Mr.. Dunn and the second
by Mr.. Rockefeller. Mr.. Dunn, he
said, was one of Mr.. Hull's most
valuable lieutenants in the depart
ment. Mr.. Rockefeller, he pointed
out, has served as co-ordinator OF
inter-American Affairs since 1910.
Praises Clayton's Record.
He said Mr.. Clayton has been
chosen to take charge of foreign
economic affairs. For Is years Mr..
Clayton was engaged in the cotton
business in many parts of the world
Since 1910, Mr.. Stettinius said, he
has served with distinction as dep
Iuty Federal loan administrator, then
as Assistant Secretary of Commerce
and finally as Surplus War Property
administrator.
L believe he would bring to the
department great executive ability,
practical experience and whole
hearted support for the liberal eco
nomic objectives of our foreign pol
icy ,;
The post of Assistant Secretary in
charge of public and cultural rela-
tions is a new one, Mr.. Stettinius
said, predicting that it would prove
of great Importance to our foreign
relations. Mr.. MacLeish would hold
this post.
MacLeish Proven Executive
In support of the appointment,
the Secretary said, Mr.. MacLeish
has been soldier, lawyer. editor
writer, and-as Librarian of Con-
gress-a proven executive whose ex-
perlence and abilities ideally qualify
him, in my opinion, to take up these
responsibilities under my direction. ."
Gen. Holmes. who has been ap-
pointed the Sixth Assistant Secre-
tary, also was commended by Mr..
Stettinius.
We have tremendous job
ahead" he said in conclusion. Il am
naturally anxious to put into effect
as rapidly as possible the program
for reorganizing and strengthening
the Department of State"
Prewar U. Slap Relations.
In describing United States -Japa-
neSe relations before the war. Mr..
Grew said:
AT that time. our country was
not prepared for war. The American
people did not want war An en-
barge on oil and scrap iron would
have been a sanction, an interna-
tional threat. 1 warned our Govern
ment that if and when we placed
embargoes on these materials our
relations with Japan would 90
downward, and We should be ready
for war.
There is nothing worse than to
| shake fist in the face of possible
opponent ana then be compelled
merely to shake finger I did not
want to see us put in that position ,
Mr.. Grew was asked by Senator
Guffey, Democrat, of Pennsylvania
whether he had ever said as re-
ported in the Philadelphia Record
that he would have Hirohito kept in
power after this country had de-
feated Japan.
Il am glad to answer that ques-
ton" Mr.. Grew replied. II have
never made such a statement. My
position is that when we get tc
Tokyo-and We certainly will get
there-we will have to meet a num-
ber of problems. First, we will have
the problem of maintaining order
and, second, we will have to thor
oughly demilitarize Japan. The
American people will demand that
these things be done.
Uncertain on Jap Reactions.
Japan has never lost war in
modern times. I do not know how