Evening star., 1951-08-20

CtDHL hCpuOttCUn SENATORS tD1O
filed a report on their individual
UietDs on the MGcArthur inUesti-
cation:
An inquiry of the type Of the
Macarthur hearings would ac-
complish little for the public good
unless. those who participated ar
rived at some firm conclusions
the implementation of which will
strengthen our country.
We have examined all Of the
facts and in good faith submit tc
the public the following con-
cluSionS:
l. The inquiry was in the public
Interest.
The inquiry into the military
situation in the Far East and the
facts surrounding the relief oi
Gen. Macarthur has been very
productive. AS a result Of the ex-
tensive testimony the public and
the members of Congress have
for the first time in a decade
been informed as to our policies in
the Far East.
The hearings have revealed
glaring mistakes. evasions. con-
ltradictions, and significant ad-
missions which will enable the
American people to more properly
|evaluate our future course of
action.
We are satisfied that this in
Ivestigation was in the public
interest.
2. The removal of Gen. Mac
Arthur was within the constitu-
tional power of the President. but
the circumstances were a shock
to the national pride.
Reasons Held Inadequate.
without debating the right of
the President to remove any mill
tary leader it must be pointed out
that the reasons assigned for the
removal of Gen. Macarthur were
utterly inadequate to justify the
act.
The justification" for removal
seems to have been built up after
the removal rather than before.
The removal came eight months
after the victorious landing at
Inchon, a military operation OF
an extremely hazardous character
so brilliantly carried out as to
rouse the outSpoken admiration
of all professional soldiers and our
people generally.
Far more serious were the
effects in the Far East Of his curt
and precipitate dismissal. There,
perhaps more than anywhere else
lin the world. prestige is associated
with dignity and a due regard fof
ldecorum. Gen. Macarthur was
our senior general. former Chief
of Staff, and a distinguished COM
mander in two world wars.
His position in the Far East
was unparalleled. He not only
held the highest United States
command, but he was also general
of the United States forces in
Korea and supreme commander
of the combined forces sof the
United Nations. He held these
positions while still in command
of and responsible for occupied
Japan. AS the executive, In
carrying out the reconstruction OF
that defeated empire, he had
acted with extraordinary success.
His energetic, intrepid, and vigor-
Gus prosecution Of the conflict in
Kroea had deepened the regard
in which he was justly held. That
such an officer should be dis
carded overnight, as though he
was merely a diSgruntled subordi-
nate. is deplorable. The unseen
ling haste of the dismissal further
compromised the position Of the
United States, a position already
badly shaken as a result Of the
unhappy events of the past six
years.
Charges Interests JeOpardized.
Furthermore, there were still
other serious repercussions. Gen
Macarthur, testifying before the
joint committee, said that,
"I have never known it in the
American Army, and I know of no
Iprecedents any place. Being sum-
Imarily relieved in that way made
lit impossible to carry out direc-
tives that was working on at that
moment. I had to turn them over
to my successor, an admirable Of
flcer in every respect. Gen. Ridg-
way, who was $50 miles away on
the Korean front. I don't think
there is any question that the
Interest Of the United States was
ljeopardized in such a summary
mode of turning over great re-
sponsibilities which involve the
security Of the country"
8. There was no serious dis.
agreement between Gen. MacAr-
thur and the. Joint Chiefs of staff
as to military strategy in Korea.
The military played no part in
Initiating or recommending the
recall of Gen. Macarthur. The rec
ord reveals direct testimony from
Secretary Marshall, Generals
Bradley, Collins. Vandenberg and
Admiral Sherman on this question
These witnesses testified clearly
and unequivocally that the mill
tary no more than concurred in q
previously made decision to recall
Gen. Macarthur.
At the outset, Gen. Bradley re-
fused to diyulge conversations
with the President, or to enumer-
ate persons whom the President
consulted relative to Gen. Mac.
Arthur's recall. Under examina-
ton by Senator Wiley, Gen. Brad
ley indicated that President Tru-
man had not, however, requested
Gen. Bradley to maintain such
matters confidential. Thus, Gen
Bradley on his own initiative re-
fused to give the details and woul6
only give the conclusions of the
talks.