Evening star., 1945-12-07
Byrnes Challenges
HurIey's Statements,
Defends Career Men
Says General Failed
To Sustain Charges
Against Department

oeCIetdry OF SLdCe 6yrneS nit
back sharply at Maj. Gen. Pat
rick j. Hurley today for his
attacks on State Department
foreign service diplomats and as
serted that Gen. Hurley had
failed to sustain his charges.
Mr.. Byrnes appeared before the
Senate Foreign Relations Commit
tee which has been looking into the
background of Gen. Hurley's abrupt
and dramatic resignation last week
as Ambassador to China.
Secretary Byrnes specifically up
held the two career men," George
Atcheson, jr, and John S. Service.
whom Gen. Hurley has charged with
seeking to sabotage his efforts to
bring about unified China while
he held the Chungking post. Gen.
Hurley had assailed this conduct as
''disloyalty."
The Secretary of State told the
committee
Ambassador Hurley has not fur
nished me, nor do understand that
he has furnished the committee, any
specific evidence to prove that any
employe was guilty of such con-
duct"
Gen. Hurley was in the audience
as Mr.. Byrnes began his testimony
and listened intently from a 'front.'
row seat.
Secretary Byrnes also challenged
Gen. Hurley's assertion that during
his service as ambassador to Chung
king, he had been unable to get a
public statement of American policy
toward China from President Tru-
man or Secretary Byrnes or other
ranking officials.
Secretary Byrnes said Gen. Hur-
ley never had asked him for such a
statement nor made a written re-
quest for it to the State Depart
ment so far as Mr.. Byrnes had been
able to determine.
| The Secretary said he also asked
President Truman whether Gen.
Hurley requested a China policy
statement from him and the Presi-
dent does not recall such a re-
quest"
Nothing to Prove Charge.
/ Mr.. Byrnes said that, "in nv
opinion, based upon the information
which has thus far been presented
to me, there is nothing in docu-
ments written by Mr.. Atcheson and
; Mr.. Service while in China ito sup
port the charge that either Mr..
Atcheson or Mr.. Service was guilty
OF the slightest disloyalty to his
,, superior officers"
Inc Secretary of State declared
that while every American foreign
service officer must administer i4the
declared policy of his government, i"
he should mot hesitate to express
his views" when he believes changed
conditions require it.
Before Secretary Byrnes opened
his testimony Chairman Connally
said Gen. Hurley would be recalled
before subsequent session of the
committee to amplify his contention
Yesterday that Undersecretary of
State Dean Acheson defeated"
American foreign policy in Iran.
Byrnes Recalls Conversation.
After reading his statement, Mr..
Byrnes told of his conversation about
10 days ago with Gen. Hurley with
regard to his return to China. The
Ambassador, he said, objected to
the fact that some foreign service
officers did not support him. He
said the Ambassador specifically
mentioned Mr.. Atcheson and Mr..
Service.
The Secretary said he advised
Gen. Hurley to forget" them and
go back to Chungking where he was
needed.
After this conversation, the Sec
retary said Gen. Hurley agreed to
return. Mr.. Byrnes said he then
went to the White House and told
President Truman the. Ambassador
would go back to his post.
Talked Over Telephone.
Did he see you again and say
he wanted to resign?" Chairman
Connally asked.
NO." the Secretary replied, add
ing that he talked with him by
telephone.
When he saw Gen. Hurley's state
ment criticizing the State Depart
ment, Mr.. Byrnes said, he asked
Gen. Hurley by telephone if he had
authorized it.
Gen. Hurley said that he did
that he objected to certain speeches
(See HURLEY, Page A-3D