Evening star., 1947-01-12
Top State Jobs
Pose Problem
Replacement for Acheson
Among Key Assistants
Necessary
By Constantine Broscn

The reported determination Of
Undersecretary of State Dean
Acheson to resign as soon as is
feasible, coupled with the resigna-
ton of Secretary of State Byrnes
and Gen. George C. Marshall's ap-
pointment TO succeed him. would
bring new men into two key foreign
policy posts at critical time.
When Mr.. Acneson entered the
State Department he did not intend
to stay any length of time. He con-
sidered his work there contribu-
ton to the war effort. Soon after
vi day he resigned as Assistant
Secretary of State to return to his
private law practice, but in less than
"a hours Mr.. Byrnes had persuaded
him to return temporarily as Un-
dersecretary. post which had been
vacated by the former Ambassador
to Japan, Joseph c. Grew. Mr.. Ache
son accepted with the understanding
that his stay would be only tempo.
rary. 1t is possible that Mr.. Ache
san may again be prevailed upon to
remain, but his real desire is to re-
sign.
The various conferences of the Big
-Four compelled Mr.. Byrnes to absent
himself from Washington for longer
periods of time than is usual for q
Secretary of State. Mr.. Acheson
was pitch torked'' into new job
for which he was not prepared. He
made many mistakes at first and
learned the hard way. Today he Is
considered by President Truman,
Mr.. Byrnes and most of mis- subor-
dinates in the department as one Of
the ablest men who have filled that
post in recent years.
Changed Mind on Russia.
While he was Assistant Secre-
tary of State IN charge of economic
affairs and liaison with Congress, he
believed, like so many other liberals,
that the only road to peace was to
appease the U. S. S. r. regardless Of
cost. But eventually, because he had
access to many new sources of infor--
nation and documents through his
official position, he became con-
vinced that an appeasement policy
toward Russia would not lead this
country any nearer peace than Brit
aims policy toward Hitler in the
days of Neville Chamberlain. He
reached this conclusion about the
same time that Mr.. Byrnes learned
from personal dealings with the
Russians that continuous yielding
to Moscow's expansionist program
would lead us into trouble.
Although the tive men saw eye
to eye while the Secretary of State
was abroad, Mr.. Acheson always
reminded his chief that he wanted
to leave Government service at
the earliest opportunity. When Mr..
Byrnes returned to Washington
from New York after the peace
treaties with Italy and the Balkan
States were concluded, Mr.. Ache
son told Mr.. Byrnes that he had
better get busy finding himself
another Undersecretary before he
left for Moscow March IS to dis
c,lss the peace treaties with Austria
and Germany.
Gen. Marshall, who will recon-
mend his next chief lieutenant to
the President, is hard put to find
a competent replace for Mr.. Ache
son. There are many able men
who could fill that post. But the
drawback is that it takes long
time for any outsider. regardless of
how able he may be, to learn the
ropes.
No Margin for Error.
The fact that Gen. Marshall may
have to stay In Moscow long time
makes the situation even worse. The
new Undersecretary viii have to
lsee BROWN, Page C-5o
a