Evening star., 1950-01-22
Security Council Job
Passes From Souers
To His Assistant
BY Raymond P. Brondt

BY Raymond P. Brondt
When Sidney w. Souers recon-
mended that his successor as Ex-
ecutive Secretary of the National
Security Council be 3s-year-old
James Selden Lay, jr., he had in
mind that fabulous civil servant,
Lord Hankey, who as secretary of
the Committee of Imperial De-
fense gave impartial continuity
to British foreign policy for three
decades.
In reluctantly accepting Mr..
Souers' resignation, President Tru-
man said that his action was
made easier because Mr.. Lay, as
Mr.. Souers' assistant, had been
thoroughly indoctrinated" in the
NSC's work.
Mr.. Lay, a fourth-generation
Washingtonian, intends to make
Government work his career. In
his new position he will be the
possessor of more foreign and
military policy high secrets than
anybody in the country, the Pres
ident alone excepted.
Secrets Are Routine
This highly confidential work
will be regular routine to Mr..
Lay. AS a Reserve officer he was
called into the military service
six months before Pearl Harbor
and five months before the attack
he was called to the Military IN
telligence Division Of the War De-
partment. AS q captain his as
signment was study Of the British
Army. He was named chief Of
the British Isle branch and served
briefly in London. He later be-
came secretary Of the Intelligence
Committee of the Joint Chiefs of
Staff and because of his knowl-
edge of British arms and his &C
quaintance with British officials
he was appointed American sec
retary of the Intelligence Com
mittee of the Combined Chiefs of
Staff.
His work was primarily that of
staff officer, not that of an opera
tional cloak-and- dagger agent.
His citation for the Legion of
Merit stated that his exceptional
skill and efficiency" contributed
significantly to the tasks assigned
him by the joint chiefs.
GAS secretary and especially as
a member of the Policy Team"
the citation continued, "he made
exceptionally resourceful and con-
structive contributions to Joint and
combined solutions of complex
problems of intelligence organi-
zation. policy and procedure.
Through unusual initiative and
resourcefulness, untiring effort
and able leadership, Col. Lay has
performed his duties in manner
rejecting great credit on the mill
tary service and has made a dis
tinguished personal contribution
to the service of the Joint Chiefs
of Staff"
He was also awarded the Order
of the British Empire for his work
with the combined chiefs
In his spacious office in the old
State Department Building, Mr..
Lay modestly complained that he
was not a "colorful'' fellow and
could boast of no spectacular war
time exploits.
He is feet 8 inches tall, weighs
l40 pounds. He keeps himself fit
by sailing, skiing and weekend
golf around 100.
With his new responsibilities, he
will get $4,000 year salary.
Unlike many Government officials,
he does not dress up to his income.
He prefers comfortable tweeds
over business" suits and often
goes in for many-hued ties.
Enthused Over Job
His blue-green eyes light up
when he talks about the council
and his future there.
But a funny thing" he said,
"is that my father, who worked
most of his life for the Govern
ment, said to me when I left for
college:
"I don't want to make your
decisions and it's up to you to
decide what you want to be. But
I have one request-don't work
for the Government
And now it looks as though
I've got job for life-that is, if
can make good"
A permanent job for a promis-
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