The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1945-12-02
Inquiry Hinted
BY ARTHUR KROCK

1uAeH1NCTON.-In the statement that &C.
comnanied his resignation as Ambassador to
ch,,neking. Major General Hurley started SO
many species Of quarry that Congress and
other State Department critics have been aunt
ing for years that some kind OF legislative in
nuiry is probable. But 1t is also probable that
similar criticisms Of the Department will con-
foundation - whatever the investigation may
disclose, until certain fundamental changes are
made in our political system.
General Hurley said that the foreign policy
of the President and Secretary Byrnes IN the
Far East is all right and he agrees with 1t.
hut that it is undercut by minor diplomats and
otherwise made ineffective because 1t Is not
coordinated among the many Federal units
engaged in executing the policy. But now can
these conditions be abolished unless there is
firm and informed formulation and direction
Of foreign policy at the top and the department
itself manned with officials just under the Sec
retarv who have been trained in this field all
their lives?
The growing tendency of the Executive and
Congress has been to consider that diplomacy
is not a profession and that experience IN the
field does not count in the Department. The
growing tendency of Secretaries OF State has
been to select-or permit the President to pro-
vide-their chief assistants on the tests OF per-
sonal friendship and political affiliatlon instead
of by the critera of SPECIALIZED ability and
experience. The experience may have been
gained through long. intimate and intelligent
observation rather than at posts, and ability to
direct the foreign service is not necessarily
acquired by having served as vice consul ana
first secretary. But these qualities, and at least
one type of this training, are essential II the
Department is ever to shed the traits which
General Hurley once again has called to pubic
notice.
The best.qualified group Of assistant secre-
taries cannot carry out foreign policy if a
President and Secretary Of State have not
evolved and coordinated one. or have pursued
it in one area and abandoned it in another,
which appears to be the situation today. The
retiring Ambassador to Chungking has made a
general charge to this effect, though he has
selected a group Of underlings as responsible.
But underlings could not have achieved even
small measure of the sabotage described by
Ambassador Hurley if the general accusation
did not reach their superiors.
If Congress therefore finds by inquiry that
our foreign policy operations in Asia are as
charged, that in itself will not put an end to
the condition. There may be dismissals OF I'M
important persons, even the usual "reorgani-
zation,'' of which the Department has had
several in recent years. But the causes will
remain so long as the high individual and sys-
temic flaws remain.
Both the President and Mr.. Byrnes are new
has been in wholly different activities. Tbs
corners in foreign affairs, and their training
would not prevent the formulation coordina-
ton and firm direction Of a foreign policy
that would be enforced down to the lowest
Government levels il the immediate enforce
ment officers, assuming them also to be able
administrators, had the essential training their
superiors lack. But at present that is not the
case.
| The Under-Secretary, Mr.. Acheson, and As
sistant Secretaries Clayton, Russell and Ben
ton have demonstrated excellent abilities in ac'
tivities they were engaged in most of their
| active lives. But Of those at the top only
Assistant Secretary Dunn has an intimate
knowledge Of the pitfalls and geologic history
of this special field, now that Mr. Castle, Mr..
Clark. Mr.. Welles, Mr.. Phillips. Mr.. Grew and
others have left the Department. That is not a
sufficient expert staff for operation just below
the Secretary. especially when he is not him
self an expert and when the field is unfamiliar
| to the President as well.
| Personal differences between Secretary Hull
and Under-Secretary Welles persuaded Presi-
dnt Roosevelt to dispense reluctantly with the
services of the latter, but Mr.. Hull never on
his own notion would have been without an
expert group Immediately under him Though
| uc dISePtCo Ollc VI IWO PoAhI1SoA ShiOASCS Wy
the White House,. His predecessors insisted on
the same kind of assistance. Mr.. Stettinius en-
into office as Secretary, and he made a be.
| listed trained staff as soon as he was thrust
ginning Of this when, to his surprise, he was
chosen to succeed Mr.. Welles as Under-Secre-
| tary.
| Mr.. Byrnes has not followed this prudent
example, and, whatever Congress may dc
about or with General Hurley's charges. there
will be more until the entire preferment sys.
tenn is revised. Even In that event the Depart
ment will come internationally under heavy fire
for occupying a place which requires long
Mr.. Acheson especially merits no criticism
ordnated at the top.
until foreign policy is made consistent and CO.
training Of a different kind. He was drafted
by Mr.. Byrnes after he had resigned as Assis'
tant Secretary to return to the law. But if he
had been given experienced associates he is
able enough, and sufficiently knowledgeable Of
government and world affairs, to have admin
istered an organized department.
Since Mr.. Byrnes is first in the line o,
Presidential succession. the majority in Con-
gress will deal gently with him if an inquiry
of General Hurley's charges is compelled. But
this and other details aside, no inquiry car
correct the condition. The real remedies are
beyond the reach OF Congress New York
| Times.