The Wilmington morning star., 1946-10-05
Well Done, Navy
By ARTHUR KROCK

policy in European waters and Admiral Hal
sey's truculent remark that 1--WE will 60 where
we damn please is the difference between
forthrish and reasoned craftsmanship and
jingoism.
The steady circulation Of American men-of-
war in the Mediterranean hal been explained
as a gesture of goodwill" Goodwill moth
ing, said Mr.. Forrestal: the Navy is in the
Eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean on
the serious and legitimate errand of discharg-
ing the war-incurred obligations of this nation,
protecting our interests, keeping the peace
and carrying out the foreign policies framed
for these purposes
The simplicity and truthfulness Of Mr. For
restals statement are probably what made it
seem remarkable, even sensational, in an era
When the heads OF many states are alternating
between fair words for their wartime allies
and verbal attacks on them, rarely suitin1
their actions to their oratory. If it is an
exception to the rule Of diplomatic EXCHANGES
among nations to state a policy so clearly
mat no one can mistake its terms or fail
to understand the reasons COR the policy then
Mr. For1estal's declaration must be nut down
as an exception.
Ait Atlantic Charter, the communique of
the first meeting of Foreign Ministers at Mos
cow in 1912, the compacts and commitments
OF Teheran, Yalta and Potsoam, the U. N.
Charter and subsequent allied conferences OBJ.
ngated the United States to certain postwar
courses. Among these were joint occupation
OF enemy areas in Europe after victory pro.
tectlon OF weak states from the aggression
o. strong ones and opportunity for all peoples
~ form governments of their own choosing
"llnout ouress from powerful netghbors. :
In Europe all these pledges are being vio-
lated by some group or there are threats
they will be violated. Also in parts of. Europe
the authority and even the safety of our oc.
cupation forces are endangered. It is the pri-
mary business Of a government to live up
to its commitments and protect its interests,
and the Fact that the United States govern
ment has peace for its objective stiffens it's
resolution to do so. The Navy, which did so
much to defeat the enemy states and liberate
their victims, is one of the strong arms of
the government. Therefore to an area where
the Navy is especially able to carry on the
governments primary business the NAVY has
been assigned.
All this seemed very right and logical to
Mr.. Forrestal, as it must 10 a great many
citizens OF this and other countries. But he
was not sure the American people understood
it clearly, particularly when so much was be-
ing explained on the commendable but in
complete thesis Of good WILL" He decided
that a public frame work of reference was
needed for the operations under his direction
as Secretary of the Navy so that hereafter,
when war vessels went here and there they
would be seen to be moving within a visible
pattern. Accordingly he prepared the brief
and candid statement that was issued.
The time that elapsed between its compo-
sition and release was not consumed in long
official arguments or in resolving differences
of opinion. Since his pronouncement was in
the field of foreign policy. Mr.. Forrestal first
cleared it with the State Department, as sound
administration practice and ordinary common
sense required. He did not take it up with
the President directly, though doubtless the
State Department did, and it was not dis
cussed in the Cabinet because no one. in
Guiding the President, brought it up in that
body. The reason probably was that, to those
charged with the formulation and pursuance
OF foreign policy-the President and the State
observation-disclosures seemed no question that
mr.. Forrestal had the right idea. At anv rate
MS document was cleared with only SLIGHT
"oo1lcatlons OF words and released without
undue .oss OF time and without relation tn
any international event of the last few DAYS
The general situation, of course, influenced
the President and the State Department to
authorize publication OF the statement at this
time as it influenced Mr.. Forrestal to pro-
pose and write it. If the threats to peace.
to the independence of small nations and tn
members OF our occupation forces did NOT
exist there would have been no more occasion
for the release now than previously in the
postwar period. But also there would have
oeen no Navy movements to explain. Preva.
lent conditions, however, made it advisable
and obligatory to protect our. interests and
our aims in those areas. This being 50 M
forrestal concluded. the activity he admins.
ters-that of the Navy-should be set in Tho
broad framework of policy and the dimensions
o. this framework should be clearly stated
If the American people have been confused
by criticisms of policy, or have not thought
through all the implications of the postwar
commitments they seemed so overwhelmingly
to support when they were made, Mr.. For
restars simple and firm explanation OF what
these commitments require under present con.
ditions in Europe will help to clarity and to
unity the popular mind. 1t makes plain that
the alternative is to "scuttle and rum as
Mr.. Ba-uch once said of the cash-and-carrv
tplan he scorntully devised to achieve ostrich
neutrality, il that was what was wanted
That alternative is not under consideration
by the government. Hence, concluded Mr..
Forrestal, let's say so and let the people
judEe.-New York Times.