Evening star., 1945-05-22
U. S. Delegates Work
| At Conference Hailed
Stettinius and Dulles Have Done
Outstanding Job, Says Observer
BY David Laurence

Outstanding Job, Says Observer
By David Laurence
Almost the first question heard here
on returning from San" Francisco is
What kind of delegation is repre-
senting the United States at the United
Nations Conference?"
The answer Is that in no world con-
ference, in my own recollection, has
the United States been represented as
we'll. This is due to variety of rea-
sons, but primarily to President Tru-
mans good sense in placing the re-
sponsibility squarely on the American
delegation to advise him on concrete
matters up for final decision, instead of
trying himself to formulate the policies
at long range
1t is also due to the good sense of
the Secretary of State, Edward Stet-
tinius, who does not approach the work
Of the delegation with preconceived no.
tions about personal publicity or ex-
ploitation. If anything, the Secretary
might be criticized for being over-mod-
est and over-cautious in seeking the
| detailed views of every one of his COL
leagues before arriving at conclusion
This takes time, but no one can say
we have had a one-man show in San
Francisco or rubber stamp for some
one in Washington to utilize.
Obviously the strength of the dele
CATION is in the ability and keenness of
Senator Vandenberg of Michigan and
former Gov. Harold StaSsen of Mime
sofa, coupled with the common sense
and wise counsel of Senator Connally
of Texas. This is not to say the other
members of the delegation do not play
a useful and helpful part, for they do,
but the brunt of the work has fallen
upon those named.
Dulles Work Outstanding.
Outstanding behind the delegation,
however, is one figure who doesn't ap-
pear in the headlines, but to him more
than any one man goes the credit for
steering the American delegation
through many difficult situations. He
is John Foster Dulles, perhaps the best
trained and experienced man in inter
national law and world affairs in the
entire group of 49 delegations. 1t was
a master stroke of Mr.. StettiniuS TO
persuade Mr.. Dulles to accept the in
conspicuous post of adviser, and it
would be about the best thing that
could possibly happen to the evolution
Of American foreign policy in the
critical years ahead if the President
could find some way to preserve the
team of Stettinius and Dulles.
The members of the delegation say
privately that Mr. Stettinius has proved
himself an extraordinarily capable man
ager and that his organizing genius is
something that the Department of State
should not lose. Yet it has been pre-
dicted by nearly all the correspondents
that some change in the secretaryship
of State might be made when the con-
ference is concluded. When, however,
an effort is made to mention some one
who has the organizing ability of Stet-
tinius. so vitality needed in an expand
ing State Department, and also the
diplomatic background which Mr.. Stet-
tinius lacks the solution is not readily
found
The name most often mentioned for
Secretary of State is that of James F.
Byrnes. He, however, is advanced in
years and is said not to be in the best
of health. Perhaps the best thing Mr.
Truman could do would be to keep Sec
retary Stettimus on the job and put III
either Mr.. Dulles or some one Of his
training in European affairs alongside
as Undersecretary of State The ex-
perience of Mr.. Grew, the present Un-
dersecretary, will be needed in the deli
cate Far Eastern problems that lie
ahead, and he ought to be permitted to
concentrate on that field without being
burdened with all the difficult Euro
pean situations that the Department of
State must also face in the future.
Pitfalls Ahead.
1t would be a good thing, too, when
President Truman goes abroad to meet
Messrs. Stain and Churchill, if he took
along Senators Connally and Vanden-
berg and Mr.. Dulles, for it will be hard
to keep out of the pitfalls that must
inevitably be encountered unless Mr.
Truman has at his elbow the men who
have learned flrst-hand at San Fran
cisco something about the conflicting
currents of world affairs in these critical
times. 1t would be fine If he could
keep Cop1dr. Stassen, too though he is
reported to be anxious to get back with
Admiral Halsey's feet for the decisive
operations of the war with Japan.
The San Francisco Conference has
brought out clearly the main outlines
Of American policy that will be guiding
us in the many strained situations that
are likely to develop soon. The most
significant achievement, of course, is
our close relations with the Latin
American countries. and in that field
the skill and magnetic personality of
Nelson Rockefeller, Assistant Secretary
OF State, has been an invaluable factor
in keeping high the prestige of the
United States at the San Francisco
Conference. 1t is in the realm of Euro
pean affairs that the Department of
State needs more personnel and more
trained diplomats.
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