Evening star., 1949-02-21
As s@*THE EVENING STAR WASHINGTON D. c.
A.,
Report Urges Single State Department Staff
Continued From First Page.

S~A@SAs
A task force report, also made
public by the commission, ex-
planned that Mr.. McDermott
cannot fill in policy background
for the press because he does not
participate in high-level deci-
sions." 1t said Mr.. Allen is too
burdened by "operational" duties
to be fully informed on the back
ground of top command determi-
nations.
The commission suggested Gre
alton under Mr.. Allen of a new
post of a general manager" with
responsibility for Voice of Ameri-
ca and other operational duties
in order to leave the Assistant
Secretary free to serve as high
level adviser on domestic and
foreign public opinion and as the
chief of press and other media of
public relations"
Terming the research and in
telligence unit in the State De-
partment its weakest and least
effective" the commission said it
should be "reorganized and re-
orientated." Much of the present
toruble, the report asserted, arises
from "a basic misconception on all
sides" of the departments intel
| ligence needs, with overemphasis
on research.
No Estimate of Savings.
The commission made no esti-
mate of financial savings from its
recommendations. THE only real
prospect OF economy" it said, lies
in making progress toward world
peace and stability.
In urging merger of the depart
mental and foreign service person
mel, the commission said the pres
| ent division of forces lis source
Fbf serious friction and increasing
inefficiency." 1t added that the
division leads to jealousies and
inequality of compensation among
people doing much the same
work"
Previous discussion of such a
move has stirred vigorous opposi-
ton in the Foreign Service. which
has been built up, over the years
as an elite career group whose
members staff American diploma
tic and consular missions abroad
and fill many key posts in the de-
partment on assignments Of three
to four years.
The Commission said present
civil service personnel of the
State Department should enter
the consolidated service on appli-
cation and oral examination.
Consulta tions Urged.
The commission emphasized
that problems of organization for
the conduct of foreign affairs are
Government wide in scope, with
Congress itself and at least 46 OF
the So major departments and
agencies in the executive branch
involved in addition to the State
1t recommended that all other
Government agencies consider
the possible foreign impact Of all
proposed major policies and pro-
grams and consult with the State
Department in regard thereto. A
The State Department Should
be the major co-ordinating force
within the executive branch on
foreign affairs matters" the COM
mission said. It added. however
that "on certain crucial issues" CO.
ordination must come from the
White House. and suggested Cab
inet-level committees to help in
this, task 49,.
One thing necessary. the COM
mission said. is loyal teamwork
between the State Department
and other departments and
agencies instead of the evasion
and backbiting that characterized
these relationships during the re-
cent war"
AS for Congress, the commits
sion said:
"The Congress should appre-
ciate that leadership in the con-
duct of foreign affairs can come
only from the executive side Of
the GovE-nment and that the
Congress should not attempt to
in executive decisions
in the international field
Creation Of ECA Backed.
It recommended that Congress
refrain from creating new agen-
cies with foreign affairs powers
unless there are overwhelming
advantages in such action" It
agreed that such advantages
justified creation of the Economic
Cooperation Administration to
handle the European. Recovery
Program.
Congress also was urged not to
legislate the precise functions
and membership of co-ordinating
and advisory bodies within the
executive branch" such as it did
in creating the National Security
Council.
AS a general rule, the commits
siop cold tho Sfota Depo rfy,oe,t