The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-06-13

The Commerce Department and Foreign Economic Administration long have Gisliked the State Department policy of marking everything secret" Even enemy radio broadcasts, which can be picked up by any radio station, are stamped secret" Common wise crack is that one diplomat even stamped his inter-offce telephone directory confidential"
 Just as bad as the State De- partment is the office of Strategic Services, nicknamed the "Oh So Secret" The young military men working in Europe and Asia for the OSS have done one of the truly great jobs of the war, and some day their whole story can be written. No praise is too great for them.
 But seated in Washington
 swivel chairs or balancing tea
 cups in Capitol drawing rooms
 are group of exdiplomats and
 Wall Street brokers who get
 great kick out of playing anna
 teur detective. The efficient
 FBI could have done their job
 with their operators.
 These hairbreadth Harry's de- light in sending telegrams at the taxpayers expense frequently about nothing more important than hotel reservations and din- ner parties-all mraked secret" For instance, here is a telegram, from one of the OSS amateur Dicks at the San Francisco Con- ference, relating who he dined with, what his travel reservations were, and how he hoped to get the files of retired Spanish American War Veteran, Gen. Ralph Van Deeman; yet the tele- gram, sent to member of the OSS here, has secret" stamped all over it.
 DILETTANTE DEFECTIVE
 "In accordance with our tele- phone conversation yesterday, am asking Col. Connely as our West Coast representative who made all arrangements with MT. and Mrs. William P. Roth, 1916 Jackson Street. for your possible occupancy of their home, to call on them this morning. He will express your deep regret and full est appreciation stating that en- ergencies have interfered with your plans! that you are not now contemplating coming here and must leave the country shortly.
 We think it would be most appropriate, in addition if you wrote personal letter to the same effect to MT. and Mrs. Roth at the above address.
 Hanger Civilians L. LAnger, head of Research and Analysis Division) and Robinson have been asked by General Embick to see him this noon. Will report any development from such meeting.
 Meanwhile I have inspected all of our installations in this vicinity and have had a talk with Mrs. Simon Buckner (wife of the U. s. Army Commander on Okinawa) who tells me that Vanderblue presented my letter of introduction to her and de- parted for his objective with a personal letter from her to her husband. She and General and Mrs. Frank Mccoy are dining with us tomorrow night. She hears frequently from her hus- band; the last letter being April 12th, and will be glad to write him anything which you might like to communicate to him.
 Am satisfied that will have completed any possible usefulness here by next Sunday, May 6, when I will leave by plane for Los Angeles and Catalina. I ex- pect to be in Washington by the next weekend.
 Before I left Washington, Mrs. Fox talked to me about General Van Deeman's library under the impression that it might be of much interest to us to acquire it if he were willing to sell it or part with it. She could not tell me where she got the impression except in . pre- vious casual conversation with