Evening star., 1945-12-20
Peorl Hurbor AIibi
Seen in Merger Plan

seen IN Mer9er Flon
Observer Says Truman Proposal
Makes Disaster Campaign Issue
By David Laurence
President Truman has presented to
The country the Democratic administra-
tons alibi for the Pearl Harbor attack
failure to have q single department
Of defense. This makes Pearl Harbor
campaign issue, along with the pro-
posal for = military dictatorship through
: single chief OF staff.
Mr.. Truman has ignored the fact that
1t was the Army's primary responsibility
to defend Pearl Harbor, yet he proposes
single department Of defense which
puts two Army organizations In the
preponderant position and relegates the
Navy to = subordinate position by de-
priying IT altogether Of the voice it had
at the cabinet table.
The President reyerses the age-old
saying that two heads are better than
one" by insisting now that one head
Is better than two. With an arbitrary
form Of expression that doesn't sound
like Mr.. Truman, but more like the
War Department groups who presuna.
bly, helped him write the message, the
President disposes Of the idea of fur
ther discussion by the men best able
to inform the public. He promptly fol-
lows this up by allowing an order to
be issued to all Navy officers to sup
press their views and not speak or write
unless called before congressional
committee.
Denounced as "Militaristic."
This Is one Of the most high-handed
steps ever permitted by President on
the question Of public discussion Of mil
itary policy or preparedness, Small
wonder that Chairman Vinson, of the
House Naval Affairs Committee, de-
nounces the whole national defense
scheme rs q militaristic proposal.
To gag the officers Of the Navy--ths
very service which played the leading
part in winning the Pacific war-and
to deny them the right OF free speech
on a matter before the American people
is to take away constitutional liberties
In peacetime and to raise suspicious as
to how the new single department 10
really to function in the future.
The Presidents message Is full Of
contradictions. It flies in the face Of
the testimony of Admiral Chester W.
Nimitz, Admiral william e. Halsey, and
Gen. Roy s. Geiger Of the Marines and
all those Navy men who were, conspi-
cuous in fighting the naval war against
Japan. -
Mr.. Truman has relied for argument
IN his message on the Army men vino
fought land war in Europe, where the
problems Of war against hrst-class
Navy were not encountered. To dis
regard the warnings of the United
States Navy and put 1t hereafter vir.
7 tuaily under the Army is to take q
| partisan position as between the armed
services which will not encourage uni
ication but may actually bring disin-
tegration in morale as well as In their
efficiency. 1t is a dangerous adventure.
Less Certainty Seen.
| 1t is unthinkable that Congress would
ever approve the plan If the men who
fought on the Navy side could speak
| freely. Unfortunately for Mr.. Truman,
he tied in his proposal for compulsory
military service which has not met
with favor In Congress with the single
department plan. He now says he
thinks the universal military: service
idea Is accepted "in principle By the
country. which certainly looks rs If he
were less certain of his original position.
If the Army fell down on the job at
Pearl Harbor and the War Department
failed to function efficiently. why should
not the War Department be reorsanized
instead Of being given full dominance in
. plan where public funds will be de-
cided on with two Army votes against
one for the Navy?
I'VE did not have" says the Presi.
dent. that kind Of direction (unifed
direction) when we were attacked four
years ago-and We certainly paid high
price for not having It,"
Does Mr.. Truman mean that criticism
| Of Mr.. Roosevelt for failing to coordi-
nate the Army and Navy and for failing
to select chiefs Of armed services who
could safeguard American territory
against sudden attack is justified?
| The President knows directive was
issued placing the Army In fun charge
OF the defense Of Pearl Harbor. II the
Army men were or should be tncompe-
tent, how would single department,
put alertness into those men who failed
to possess it? @
Passage Questioned.
Further studies Of the general prob.
lem would serve no useful purpose" say,
the President. There is enough evi.
dence now on hand to denonsmate be.
yond question the need for 9 untned de-
partxnent." 4
The President would have been on
sounder ground II he had said there
Is enough evidence on hand to .slcw
that Incompetence prevailed IN the per-
sonnel Of the War: and NSvy Bepart-
ments. About all the single departplent
might do Is to make more cun1berSoms
the present system and make It even
more difncult to fix responsibility in the
operations of these services as the Pearl
Harbor Investigating COMMITTEES Is dis
covering every day.
The proposal for . single department
Of defense will not pass In Congress be-
cause 1t means that the Navy would be
scuttled and the American people are
not going to weaken their first line of
defense. The United States is primarily
= naval power. with two ocean coast lines
and IL MT soAs,rr IA hAcoyna = Ii nA ,A.1