Evening star., 1951-02-04

cisSism; an acute interest in histt
patriotism complicated by mer-
ciless ambition; the ability to
make use of conquered peoples;
administrative capacity; desire to
leave behind him a structure of
law. and a taste for benevolent
aut6cracy."
Since Macarthur was the first
American to rule a conquered
country as supreme commander
Mr.. Gunther compares him to
proconsuls of history. including
the French Marshal Lyautey and
Don Juan of Austria. The author
adds that Gen. Macarthur, "even
though he may be as vain as the
Earl of Essex (another proconsul-
in Ireland) has great virtues.
Mainly they are virtues of a
somewhat antique type. more no.
table in classic ages than in our
own-strict honorableness, belief
in the right. moral courage and
dedication to an ideal
1t may be gathered from these
quotations that Mr.. Gunther has
tried to present a fair. round
ed picture of the commander
in the Far East. This may sur
prise some readers, because Mr..
Gunther has disclosed in his other
books that he was long way from
the political and social philosophy
generally attributed to Gen. Mac
Arthur. Perhaps the general has
been judged too much by the ex-
treme rightist views of his more
vocal supporters in this country;
Mr.. Gunther indicates that this is
so, though he quotes kilograms in
which the general showered praise
on some of his most conspicuous
advocates, including Mr.. Hearst.
This book is more a careful pro-
file of its subject than an attempt
to assign him place in the
stream of history. Mr.. Gunther
has wisely refrained from attempt
ing too much. He is a vivid re-
porter, who can soak up impress
sions and facts on the run. In
his last book, Roosevelt in Ret
respect" he got out of his depth
and f1oundered between his great
admiration for this late President
and an attempt to make his
torical evaluation. In the Mac
Arthur book he is on surer
ground: he has covered the assign
ment, probably as well as any
one could in a short time, and
simply reported what he found.
The book has all the merits of
the authors inside" series on
Europe, Asia and the United
States and their inevitable super
fatalities.
The new book has a more amaz-
ing facet. 1t is a remarkable in
stance of an up-to-date publica-
ton of current affairs. Mr.. Gun
ther made final revision the second
week in December, SO he was able
to discuss the devastating Chinese
Red counteroffensive in Korea.
Thus the book might almost have
sprung from the events that made
last weeks newspapers. Mr.. Gun
ther realizes the difficulties under
which Gen. Macarthur fought the
Korean war, such as being unable
to bomb the enemy above the
Manchurian border. The author
adds: Even so, the way he was
caught by surprise and the conse-
quent retreat of his stupefied
armies can hardly be excused"
While the general disliked the
New Deal enthusiastically, Mr.
Gunther says, he and Mr.. Roose-
welt remained. contrary to popular
belief, pretty good friends. "Po-
litically F. D. R. was, of course,
much further to the left than
Macarthur. He was broader per-
son, with more social vision. Yet
it would be unwise to think of
Macarthur as a reactionary, and
strange as it may seem-there
are strong traces of the New Deal
in soap (Supreme Command of
the Allies in the Pacif1c.)"
The reforms that Gen. Mac
Arthur has brought about in
Japan in less than six years are
astonishing. Mr.. Gunther feels
that at least some of these will
stick when the occupation is over,
especially those which have
emancipated to a large extent
women, labor and the peasants.
He talked to great many Jap
aneSe, and he concludes that most
OF them like Americans, at least
individually, and nearly all ad-
mire Macarthur. The test of their
loyalty to the Macarthur die
tatorship was the Korean war,
when their country was almost
drained of American troops and
yet there wasn't the slightest un-
rest.
According to Mr.. Gunther, Gen.
Macarthur presides in almost in
credible austerity. He works long
hours. He receives on business a
few top japanese, including the
Emperor, the Prime Minister and
the heads of Parliament. He never
visits them. He has no social con-
facts with natives. He travels no.
where in Tokyo except between his
residence. the old Embassy, and
his Office. No doubt his olympiap
detachment impressed a people