Evening star., 1947-06-29
A New First Mate for Ship Of State
Lovett's Versatility
Should Aid Him
inVitoI Role

Robert Abercrombie Loyett begins
"soloing" as Undersecretary OF
State this week.
He brings to the No. 2 job in the
State Department, among other
things:
A capacity for efficient admins
tration, demonstrated in his New
York banking business and as one
Of the prime organizers of Amer
lca's tremendous wartime airplane
production, that Secretary of State
Marshall is counting on heavily in
his efforts to improve functioning
of the department.
A valuable background Of prac-
tical experience in international
financial affairs.
A lively sense of humor and a
graciousness in dealing with other
people that make for popularity
and loyalty among his subordinates.
A high concept of duty as a public
servant, coupled with personal
humility and an intense desire to
stay out of the limelight as much
as possible.
Works With Acheson
An orderly mind, outraged at the
way conduct of American foreign
policy in the past sometimes has
fuctuated as personalities shifted
in the State Department.
Mr.. Lovett takes over as Under
secretary of State Tuesday after
learning the ropes of his job under
an arrangement unprecedented for
incoming top Government officials
His appointment was timed de-
liberately to give him opportunity
to work for a month side by side
with retiring Undersecretary OF
State Dean Acheson before assum-
ing Office on his own.
Mr.. Acheson's resignation, to be
effective July !, and Mr.. Lovett's
selection to succeed him, were an
nounced by the White House on
May IL. The Senate confirmed Mr..
Lovett's nomination on May %.
Two days later he was sworn in as
special assistant to Secretary
Marshall, giving him official status
in the department without operating
responsibilities during his breaking
in period
Puts in Long Hours
A World War 7 Navy flyer and
World War II Assistant Secretary OF
War for Air, Mr.. Lovett draws on
aviation terminology for an apt de-
scription of this four week period
as putting in some dual flying time
with Dean"
He has set in with Mr.. Acheson on
policy making conferences, talked
with other officials high and low in
the department, taken a look at
such operations as the departments
communications center and gener-
ally exerted himself to get clear
view of just what makes American
foreign policy headquarters tick.
1t has meant plenty of hard work
and Mr.. Lovett still is appalled, at
the complexity of the problems fac
ing him in a job that amounts to
acting as deputy chief of staff" to
Gen. Marshall and taking over
direction of the department as act
ing secretary when Gen. Marshall is
away from Washington as he prob
ably will be much of the time in
coming months at international
conferences.
Mr.. Lovett has been getting to
work around $3.50 a IN. daily, rarely
leaving his Office before pm, and
working Saturdays and Sunday
mornings as well as the regular
Government work days.
So many critical problems came
to the Undersecretary's Office for ac-
ton during Mr.. Lovett's first day of
dual flying time" with Mr.. Acheson,
that he promptly suggested the De-
partment of State should be re-
named the Department of Crises
if things went on like that.
Stickler for Efficiency
Actually, Mr.. Lovett can be ex-
pected to work with Gen. Marshall
to bring about improvement in
methods of operation in the State
to get away from action
on a continual crisis" basis.
His remedy is to perfect depart
mental machinery so that troubles
will be anticipated and
proper action planned long before a
crisis develops.
Like Gen. Marshall, he insists on
efficient staff work" That is,
thoroughly integrated policies to
meet all contingencies should be
through staff planning.
they attempt to erupt from within
their present sphere of influence.
The crux of the matter is that we
must hold the line economically
tand, it follows, politically in
E,,ropa This nreSentS q difficult