Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-01-25
Morale and Our Foreign Service

Secretary Dulles has spoken reassuringly,
and rather perSuasively. of the State Depart
ment's security procedures and the esprit de
corps Of our Foreign Service He has been
moved to dc this by the criticism and fears
expressed IN a recent letter to the New York
Times from five distinguished former diplomats
In effect. ne has said that these men have taken
an alarmist position that is not really war
ranted by the facts of the situation.
What the five have said is this: That our
Foreign Service, "our Inst line OF national de-
tense" has been hurt by the sinister" and "in-
sidious" effects OF irresponsible attacks from
outside sources" presumably meaning congress
sional committees) on the patriotism and moral
ity OF its members Moreover according to the
former diplomats, these attacks are being re-
inforced-no matter how unwittingly-by the
State Departments present security practices,
and the conclusion has become unacceptable"
that a diplomatic officer who reports on
persons and events to the very best of his
ability and who makes recommendations which
at the time he conscientiously believes to be
In the interest of the United States may sub
sequently find his loyalty and integrity chal-
lenged premium therefore has been put
upon reporting and upon recommendations
which are ambjguously stated or so cautiously
set forth as to be deceiving accuracy and
initiative have been sacrificed to acceptability
and conformity"
This viewpoint which has been expressed
by others on more than few occasions within
recent years. has a ring Of logic and common
sense in 1t. But Mr. Dulles has made clear that
he quite disagrees with 1t. Leaving aside the
factor of recklessly directed or demagogic con-
gressional inquiries factor which he cannot
control and on which he has not commented
In his statement-he has cogently defended his
departments security procedures, over which
he exercises a strict personal surveillance tc
guard against injustices As he has put It. there
is no diplomatic officer who needs to fear that
there will be any ruthless process employed so
far as he is concerned" Further, as to the sug-
geStion that our overseas Representatives are
too frightened to report accurately or clearly
he has declared: II must say that find no EVIL
dence Of that at all. find no evidence of any
cringing on the part OF the Foreign Service per-
sonnet. believe that they are performing their
work adequately, Loyalty, and doing their duty
as would expect of the fine body Of men and
women that they are"
All this is good TO hear But the fact re-
mains that some aspects Of the situation tend
to support the criticism and fears voiced by the
five former diplomats The most striking case
in point is that OF John Patton Davies ir Al
though ne has had number of clearances on
security and loyalty grounds he has oeen called
back from Peru for further processing by the
State Department. and Senators Jenner and
McCarran have suggested that he should De
subjected again to fHll-scale congressional
investigation When thus kind Of thing goes on
year after year, without any termination, mo-
body should find it haro to understand why
many Of our people-deSpite Mr.. Dulles as
surances-are worried about the morale and
effectiveness Of our Foreign Service.