Evening star., 1945-01-14
Reorganized State Department Gains New Spirit
Under Vigorous Leadership Of Edward R. Stettinius

act while with General Motors Of which
Mr.. Stettinius is proudest today was
his negotiation Of the largest-scale en-
ployee insurance policy in history up to
that time, a policy Of $45O,000,0oO cover
ing GINS 100000 employees.
Chairman of u. S. Steel
In 1884 Myron s. Taylor, then chair
man Of the board of United States Steel,
persuaded Mr.. Stettinius to transfer
his talents there, where he became
vice chairman of the finance commit
tee. BY successive steps he advanced
to the Craftsmanship, the directorate,
and in 1888. upon Mr.. Taylor's retire
Americas top-ranking industrial giant.
Age: SO. Salary: 100000 per year.
But even the atmosphere of big STEEL
had not stihed the social ideas of the
young Virginia student. In 1887, despite
the deep resentment Of some of his busi-
ness associates, he signed United States
Steel's first contract with Philip Murray's
Steel Workers Organizing Committee.
Even earlier he had shown comprehen-
sion of labor's problems in refusing,
against bitter opposition of his own or
ganization, to cut wages when the price
of steel was reduced. That, President
Roosevelt said In speech at the time,
was industrial craftsmanship"
AS matter Of fact Mr.. Stettinius had
enjoyed friendly relationship with the
President and some OF the New Dealers
InrO hafnre ~ t.ts
nection with United States Steel and
came here as a member OF the Ad-
visory Committee to the Council on
National Defense in May, 1910.
"For the Duration"
He first met the President in 1882,
when both were active in the share the
work movement in New York State.
The following year he spent some time
in Washington acting as liaison man
between the Industrial Advisory Board
and the National Recovery Administra-
tion. In 1884 he was called here again
for special work on the advisory board.
During those days he got on friendly
terms with such ardent early New Deal
ers as Leon Henderson and Jerome
Frank. Their views on many subjects
were. wide apart. but they came to
know and trust each other.
Even today Mr.. stettinius regards his
service in Washington as a wartime
job" And it was the imminence of
danger to America that persuaded him
in 1910 to give up his 100000 a year
salary with United States Steel for
Government service "for the duration"
Early in 194l, with the establishment
of the ONCE Of Production Manage
ment. he became head Of the priorities
division. In September of the same
year he took over the tremendous Job
OF handling lease-lend and during those
days made extensive contacts in Con-
gress which viii stand him in good
stead now.
Great Britain and Russia
Another by-product of lend-lease
days: He had extensive dealings with
the key men in many foreign lands,
particularly Great Britain and Russia,
on a subject dearest to their hearts
military supplies, in abundance and
quickly. No respecter of red tape, he
delighted the Russians once by filling,
while ship waited, an. order for 5000
tons Of barbed wire, needed to slow
down the German advance. He did 1t
by persuading manufacturer in Cleve-
land to turn it out in a hurry without
formal negotiations.
Mr. Stettinius entered the State De-
partment in September, ls43, follow
ing the resignation of Summer Welles as
Undersecretary of State. Fifteen
months later Mr.. Hulls retirement,
forced by Ill health. opened the way
for his rise to Americas No. cabinet
Office.
An interesting insight into Mr.. Stet-
tinius' views toward Americas major
allies and their relations In the post
war world is contained in his book,
"Lend-Lease. Weapon for Victory" He
wrote:
"If we have learned to collaborate in
war, we can surely do so in peace. There
will be many problems to be worked out
between us, of course. There will inev-
itably be clashes Of interest, and there
will be points of friction. But that is
nothing new or frightening-either with
in nation or between nations Such
questions can be settled to our mutual
benefit as we go along.
Those Americans who doubt this have
always seemed to me strangely lacking
in confidence in the ability Of the Amer
ican people to use the power of our
country wisely and well in international
relations
Let Us Hope for Competition
What have we to fear2 Competition
with Great Britain? Let us hope that
there is plenty Of healthy competition
as well as close cooperation between
us in the building up Of world trade
and prosperity in our own and in other
lands. The United States should be the
last country in the world to fear COM
petition after this war is won.
'We shall have by far the greatest in
dustrial power, immense material re-
sources, country undamaged by the
enemy, businessmen who can stand up
to businessmen anywhere in the world
and new and intimate knowledge Of
other peoples and other lands gained by
the millions of our men who have gone
abroad.
IF were British could understand,
perhaps, fearing competition from us in
the postwar world, for Britain has suf-
fered heavy economic losses as well as