The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1945-12-01
BY WALTER LIPPMAN
Mr.. Hurley and Mr.. Wheeler

by the time this article Is pub
lished, the Washington correspon-
dents will probably have found
OFT what happened during the late
afternoon or early evening on
l.-onday of this week which caus-
ed Mr.. Hurley to resign and issue
his statement. At their interview
on Monday afternoon he had CIV
en- Secretary Byrnes the definite
impression that he would return
to Chungking this week. Yet a few
hours later he pulled the trigger
which released the blast that ac-
companied his resignation. The
question is. what happened to- Mr..
Hurley after he left Secretary
Byrnes on Monday afternoon?
There is nothing in his statement
which throws any light on that
question. 49,. .;4
While this mystery is being
cleared up, we may examine his
general criticism Of our foreign
policy. Like Senator Wheeler, who
spoke out the same day, Mr.. Hur-
ley believes that we are not pur-
suing an independent policy in
Europe and Asia but are playing
a subordinate and auxiliary role
to Britain and Russia. But they
differ considerably as to what we
are. doing. Though Mr.. Hurley's
immediate complaint is against
the career men who, he alleges, are
''endeavoring- to support CommE-
nism generally as well as specifi-
cally in China he makes the
categorical statement that Sin di-
plomacy today. we are permitting
ourselves to be sucked into q
power bloc on the side of colonial
Imperialism ii. e. British against
Communist imperialism Ii. e. Rus
SIAM
Mr.. Wheeler on the other hand
sees us "apeasing' Russian i'm
periahsm, which is rather differ
ent from Mr.. Hurley's charge that
we are being sucked into a. Brit
ish power bloc against Russian i'm
perialisrn. Nevertheless. both men
feel however incoherently-that
in eastern Europe, the Middle
East, and in Asia, the basic' con-
flict is between. the Soviet Union
and the British Empire, and that
the United States is being drawn
into that conflict instead Of play
ing an independent and; construc-
tive role of its own. When all dis
counts have been made for the
violence and unfairness with
which this criticism is made there
is a residue Of truth in it which
no one can afford to dismiss easily
because he does not like Senator
Wheeler record or Mr.. Hurley
performance in China.
It is ,true-so it has seemed to
me ever since / attended the San
Francisco CONFERENCE.-THE, if I
may quote something written last
May, ''the real issue has been be-
tween London and Moscow. and
it would be very unfortunate in
deed if the United States sacri-
ficed its great influence as the
mediator, which President Roose-
welt struggled to maintain even in
his last days D.. It is Of special
importance that we. preserve our
more detached role in the Anglo
Soviet difficulties, remembering
that. while they are for the mo-
ment focused on, Poland, they ex-
tend in a wide arc through the
Balkans to- the Middle East and
Persia" .4.. r.
This was. written at time when
the San, Francisco conference was
in grave. danger. of breaking up
because the chairman Of our dele
cation had drifted into position
where. we were becoming the head
and front Of a worldwide anti
Soviet coalition. The conference
was. rescued by the prompt ac-
ton of President Truman, who,
advised. of the danger, sent Mr..
Harry Hopkins to Moscow and Mr..
Joseph Davies to London, and sue
ceeded in placing us once again in
the position of conciliator. and
mediator between, the Soviet Union