Evening star., 1945-12-15
Nations S Best Wishes
Go to Gen. Marshall
Well Equipped to Handle China
Problem, Writer Points Out
By David Laurence


Problem, Writer Points Out
BY Dauid Laurence
Gen. Marshall departs for China with
the hopes and best wishes of the en-
tire government. Few men in public
life have ever been held in greater af-
fection by official Washington and this
includes not only persons in the mill
tary and naval branches but in the
Congress and the executive depart
ments.
Every one recognizes, moreover, that
the problem of uniting the factions in
China is almost insuperable and that
if there is a chance of success 1t lies
perhaps with some one with the prestige
and personality of Gen. Marshall. The
new envoy, besides being the man who
headed the largest army ever sent
overseas by any nation, possesses tact,
charm and discerning judgment.
The whole story of Gen. Marshall's
achievements as head of the army prob
ably will never be told in any volume
or series of volumes. 1t is record OF
personal contact and personal effort not
only in keeping the legislative branch
of the government informed but Of
meeting the thousand and one prob
lens of organization in the military
services. And yet the general found
time to travel overseas not only for the
conferences which the late President
| Roosevelt had with the heads of the
allied governments but to confer and
/ consult with his commanding gener-
/ ais on the battle fronts. Almost as II
I it were routine, he got into a trans
/ port plane and flew to the Pacific to
/ talk with Gen. Macarthur or to Eu-
rope to confer with Gen. Eisenhower
and the commanders along the front
! line.
/ Frank and Outspoken.
/ In his relations with the press, Gen.
Marshall was frank and outspoken. He
/ never misled and never tried to hide
even essential facts. If he. was unable
to speak on a subject, he usually told
| why or else indicated why 1t was for
hidden ground for questioning. Yet
the number of things Gen. Marshall did
tell the press off the record for its
guidance was so large and included so
many secrets at the time that corre-
spondents here felt they had an inside
view of the war situation continuously.
| Gen. Marshall has carried his hon.
/ ors modestly. He is one of the most
democratic men in the government.
He is ready for retirement from active
service, but high sense of duty caused
him to accept the special mission to
China at time when he would have
liked a rest and a cessation of respon-
sibilities.
1t was characteristic of Gen. Mar
] shall to accept the post when requested
by Mr.. Truman. To him request by
the President of the United States is
tantamount to a command.
The future of China is important to
world peace If Gen. Marshall can find
a formula that will bring the factions
there together in some working agree
ment which will make possible the ex-
tension of economic aid to China, he
will earn the lasting gratitude of the
whole world. For the British and Rus
sian governments, too, have a stake in
the Far East and are anxious to have
the civil war there terminated.
To Speak With Authority.
The charges made by former Ambas-
sador Hurley have served to outline the
nature of the problem The State De-
partment has undoubtedly been torn
by differences, because the two factions
in China have each maneuvered to get
the backing of the American govern
ment.
What probably will ensue is a policy
that notifies both factions that the de-
sire of the United States is to see unity
in China and that there will be no
partisanship or undue influence exer-
cised with respect to China's internal
affairs. The objective is to produce
solidarity and in time proposals to
bring this about will be laid before
both factions.
But when all is said and done, it will
be the persuasive powers of Gen. Mar
shall and his broad authority to work
out an agreement which may bring sue
cess to his mission. 1t is what he says
orally rather than in writing and par
ticularly what he is able to say on the
spot that will count. Everybody in
China will know that for all practical
purposes he is the maker of the policy.
He has the unqualified support of
President Truman and what is recon-
mended by Gen. Marshall will doubtless
be approved in Washington by the State
Department and the White House.
If Mr.. Hurley lacked the backing, the
very opposite may now be said with re-
spect to Gen. Marshall No one in
China will be able to doubt his author
ity to speak for the United States.
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