The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1954-11-06
Security Firing OF Davies
May Raise Public Controversy
sv JOHN IA. HicHTowER

Patton Davies Jr. on grounds Of
slack of judgment, discretion and
reliability" threatened today to be-
come a new center of public con-
troversy.
Secretary Of State Dulles, an
nouncing the immediate dismissal
of a key figure IN the 1O-year-old
dispute over Americas China pol
cy, said yesterday he was affirm
ing the unanimous findings of .
special five-rnan security board
Dulles said neither he nor the
panel found Davies ''disloyal in the
sense Of having any Communist af-
finity" or that he consciously
helped" an enemy Of this country.
Dulles announced he had decided
with the board that ''the continued
employment OF Mr.. Davies is not
clearly consistent with interests
Of national security"
Former Clearance
Davies, who had been cleared
seven times under the Truman ad-
ministration, announced he would
not contest the decision. But he de-
clared in q statement he did not
feel there were adequate grounds
for il. Davies had been in the diplo-
matte service % years, much Of
the time In China.
He got the word OF his dismissal
In a personal talk with Dulles and
shortly before a public announce
ment.
Tina announcement did not say
on what specific points In Davies
record the decision against him was
based.
State Department officials were
unable TO say what effect the dis.
missal would have on Davies re-
tirement benefits, but the New York
Times said he loses those benefits
which he otherwise could have col
lected In less than four years.
Storm Center
Davies, 46, has been diplomatic
and political storm center for years
because during the latter stages
of World War ii he urged that the
United States take firm steps tG
"revitalize" Nationalist China's
Kuomintang. state Department
records already published show ii
Davies said such q revitalized party
could be significant force" In
coalition government with the
Communists measure designed
TO forestall outright Red conquest
II Chang Kai.shek's party could
not be reformed" Davies said
the United States should consider
trying to win cooperation from th'
Chinese Reds.
Davies has been criticized b!
those who claim US. officials dit
not do enough TO help the strug
Cling Chang regime while ii still
was on the mainland and that thi.
contributed TO the Red victory Their,
Last year, Sen. Mccarthy tR.Wis'
said the Eisenhower administration
"struck out" by not firing Davies
Patrick ]. Hurley. US. ambas
sador TO China In 1944-45. accused
Davies and others of "sabotaging'
the policy Of aiding Chang.
The new investigation of Davie,
was ordered under the terms of Sc
curity regulations issued early las
year by President Eisenhower.
"Under the present executive,
order on security" Dulles said, ii
Is not enough that an employe b,
of complete and answering 10y
atty. He must be reliable, trust
worthy, of good conduct and char
acter."
Factors In Case
The possibility of further con
troversy in the Davies affair arise
from several factors:
l, Davies said he had aske,
Dulles to make public 1.-THE wholt
record on my case. including m.
1880 recommendations that we seel
q preventive showdown with Oh,
Soviet Union" This was the frs
hint that he had made such a pro
posal
2. II appeared probable that III,
Foreign Service Journal. a maya
zine published by foreign servic
officers, would also ask publication
OF the record on the ground tina
the Dulles announcement yeSterda
did not make the issues clear 10
the future guidance Of US. diplc
mats.
Also asking publication was form
er Ambassador George r. kennar
a prominent career diplomat
whom Dulles retired last year i
consequence Of differences over POI
icy. KEENAN, called Davies dismis
sal ill advised
8 Democratic party leaders. RI
turning to power in the next Cor
gresS, have indicated they intend {
investigate security firinss of III
Eisenhower administration. Tn,
Davies dismissal falls into tia
category.
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