Evening star., 1950-09-19
Report Is Widespread
McCIoy 10 Be Named
MarshaII's Chief Aide
Allied Leader in Germany
Noted Administrator in
Civilian, Military Work
By David LaaCrence

AS zen. Marshall lakes over
the post of Secretary of Defense,
the most important task confront
ing him is the selection of an
Undersecretary Of Defense-the
No. 2 man of the department.
Not only is it desirable to have
someone who is familiar with the
department, but actually it is even
more important that he be cap
able of succeeding Gen. Marshall
It seems probable that the general
will not wish to serve any lengthy
term in the department, prefer
ring to organize it along the lines
that he believes are in accord with
the needs of the times and then
to 60 back to his well-earned re-
tirement.
Who shall the Undersecretary
be?
The impression today is wide
spread here that John j. McCloy,
now Allied High Commissioner to
Germany, has already been desig-
mated and that his appointment
will be announced soon.
Ordinarily it would not be fit
ting to call from an important
service abroad a man of such out
standing ability to occupy the po-
sition of second man in any Gov
ernment department. But the
knowledge that, in the not-far-
distant future, he would be the
No. man throws different light
on the matter.
Able Administrator.
Mr.. McCloy is an exceptional
person-an able administrator
and a man of experience in mill
tary affairs, having served as AS
sistant Secretary of War under
Secretary of War Stimson during
a major part Of World War II,
when both the Army and the Air
Force were unified in a single de-
partment. Mr. McCloy knows his
way around Washington and is
a close friend of General Marshall.
He was one of the top-level group
who handled delicate postwar
problems. especially the strategy
behind the Allied countermeasures
against the Berlin blockade.
What Mr.. McCloy has learned
in his service in Germany and his
special knowledge of defense
problems makes him the ideal
Undersecretary and the ideal man
for Secretary of Defense when
Gen. Marshall has completed his
reorganization.
It will be recalled that, shortly
after the war, Mr.. McCloy re-
turned to his law practice in New
York only to be called here to
serve as president of the World
Bank. It was this important post
that he was persuaded by Presi-
dent Truman to leave in order
to serve in Germany as Allied
High Commissioner.
The appointment of Mr.. McCloy
will satisfy many critics who feel
that civilian influence in the De-
fenSe Department should not be
allowed to wane as a military man
takes the top job.
It would not be surprising if
Gen. Marshall leans over backward
in this respect and watches metic-
ulously for opportunities to safe
guard civilian control of the de-
partment. Under his leadership it
may be expected that the Secre-
tary of the Army, Secretary of the
Air Force and Secretary of the
Navy will achieve greater impor-
tance than ever before as civilian
officers and as true managers of
their respective departments.
Knows Value of Realism.
Like Gen. Eisenhower, Gen.
Marshall is probably of the opin-
ion that harmony among the
Armed Service chieftains can be
obtained by a little bit of realism
all around. He knows from his
experience in the United States
Joint Chiefs of Staff what the
difference, between the armed
services have been and can be.
He doubtless is eager in his own
way to try his hand at integral
Ing the three armed services.
1t is significant that inside ali
three services today there is an
air of expectation that Gen. Mar
shall will be better able to under
stand the viewpoints of these
services than any other man in
public life today. He understands
also the Importance of continuous
contact with the House and Sen
ate Armed Services Committees.
If, for example, he reads the Feb
ruary report of the House COM
mittee on the differences between
the armed services and studies
carefully the recommendations
therein, he will know how to avoid
the pitfalls of bitter controversy
that have shared his predecessor.
For one thing it is an open Sc
cret that the Navy welcomes the
coming of Gen. Marshall to the
Defense Department, and the
same goes certainly for the Air
Force. There is, of course, every
reason for the Army to be proud
that it has developed a leader
whose record can persuade both
houses of Congress to believe that,
though military man. he can
give heed to the civilian viewpoint.
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