Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1951-07-26

lprisal if the truth be expressed II
criticism of those in higher publi
Authority
i For example, find in existenc,
la new and heretofore unknown
and dangerous concept that tn,
!, members of our armed forces ow,
primary allegiance and loyalty t,
those VINO temporarily exercis,
the authority of the executiv,
branch of Government, rattle
than to the country and it's Con
stitution which they are sworn tt
defend. No proposition could b,
more dangerous. None could cas-
greater doubt upon the integrit,
of the armed services.
For its application would al
once convert them from their ira.
ditional and constitutional role a.
the instrument for the defense O.
the republic into something par.
taking OF the nature of a pretoriar
guard, owing sole allegiance Il
the political master of the hour
While for the purpose of admin.
istration and command the armed
services are within the executive
branch of the Government, they
are accountable as well to thu
Congress, charged with the policy.
making responsibility, and to thu
people, ultimate repository of al
national power.
Yet so inordinate has been the
application of the executive power
that members of the armed serv-
ices have been subjected to the
most arbitrary and ruthless treat
ment for daring to speak the
truth in accordance with convic-
ton and conscience.
Reasons For Recall.
! I hesitate to refer to my owr
relief from the Far Eastern com.
mands as I have never ques.
toned the legal authority under
Lying such action. But the three
Fsole reasons publicly stated BY
the highest authority clearl,
demonstrate the arbitrary nature
of the decision. The first reason
given was that, contrary to ex.
listing policy, I warned of thu
strategic relationship of Formoss
to American security and the
dangers inherent in this area.
falling under Communist control
| Yet this viewpoint has since
been declared by the Secretary
Iof State, under oath before con-
Igressional committees. to have
been and to be the invincible anc
long standing policy of the United
States. The second reason giver
was that I communicated my
readiness to meet the enemy com.
mander at any time to discuss
acceptable terms of a cease Are
arrangement. Yet, for this pro.
posal. I was relieved of my com.
mand by the same authorities who
since have received so enthusiast.
cally the Identical proposal wher
made by the Soviet government
The third and final reason ad.
vanced was my replying to a Con.
gressman's request for informa
ton on a public subject then I'm.
der open consideration by the
Congress. Yet both Houses of Con.
gress promptly passed a law con.
f1rming my action, which indeed
had been entirely in accordance
with long existing and we'll rec
ognized though unwritten policy
This law states that no member
of the armed forces shall be re-
jstricted or prevented from COM
municating directly or indirectly
with any member or members OF
Congress concerning any subject
unless such communication is ii
violation of law or the security
and safety of the United States
And this formal enactment OF
basic public policy was approved
without the slightest dissent by
the President. Is there wonder
that men who seek an objective
understanding of American policy
thinking become completely frus-
trated and bewildered? Is there
wonder that Soviet propaganda
so completely dominates Ameri-
can foreign policy? And, indeed
what is our. foreign policy?
Confused MISUNDERSTANDING.
We hear imprisoned appeals
that it be bipartisan-violent
charges that efforts are being
made to obstruct and defeat 1t
but I defy you or any other
man to tell me what it is. 1t
has become a mass of confused
misunderstanding and vacilla-
lions. 1t has meant one thing to-
Iday-another tomorrow. It has
almost blown with every wind
changed with every tide. The
sorry truth is we have no policy
Expediencies as variable and
shifting as the exigencies of the
moment seem to be the only
guide. Yesterday. we disarmed /;
today we arm, and what of to-
morrow? We have been told of
the war in Korea that it is the
wrong war, with the wrong enc
my, at the wrong time and in
the wrong place.
Does this mean that they in
tend and indeed plan what they
would call a right war, with a
right enemy, at a right time and
in right place? If successful
in mounting the North Atlantic
Pace in 1853 or 1854 or at one
of the ever changing dates fixed
for it's contamination, what comes
then?
| Do we mean to throw down q
gage of battle? Do we mean tt
continue the fantastic fiscal bur-
den indefinitely to our inevitable
exhaustion Is our only plan tt
spend and spend and spend? Dc
Court Frees Driver, SO,