Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1961-09-15
FuIbriuht's Memo


many responsible Germans
wondered why Senator Full
bright, chairman of the Sen
ate's most important COM
mittee, had used his power
and taken the initiative in
demanding that the Defense
Department milzzle the gen.
erals and admiralS who were
denouncing the Soviet regime
and communism" These
responsible Germans" re-
mind me Of the Soviet major
who fled to the West, and
then started giving lessons
in democracy. He said that
if democracy fails, it will be
because a statesman making
a mistake is allowed to con-
tinue in office instead Of
being shot. How can there
be any sense of political re-
sponsibility among demo-
cratic statesmen" he COM
planned. "if they know that
nothing happens to them
when they blunder?"
Mr.. Brown should have eX-
planned to these Germans
that nobody is being "muz-
zled" for denouncing the
Soviet regime and commun-
ism. But, as Senator Full
bright said in an address on
Public Policy and Military
Responsibility" his memo
randum set forth instances
Of military sponsorship of
attacks by radical extremists
on the policies of our Gov
eminent. The point cannot
be overStressed that it is not
these verbal attacks which
are at issue. but their spon-
sorship by military authori-
ties Nor does it matter
whether the extremist views
expressed were those of the
left or of the right it is
the constitutional right of
all American civilians and
military to hold whatever
political views they are led
to by conviction and con-
science, be they moderate or
extreme. Military men in
their official status, how
ever, are committing not
only themselves as indiv;d-
ualS but the prestige If the
armed forces when they pro-
mote or appear to sponsor
partisan politica! meetings.
They are, therefore, dong a
diSserYice both to the Ameri-
can people and to the armed
services when they lend their
support to any groups or Or
CARNATIONS which espouse
policies that run counter to
those of the Commander-in-
Chief of the armed forces
and which have the effect
OF generating distrust and
suspicion among our people.
1.-THE memorandum con-
tanned a specific recommen-
dation that the Defense De-
partment issue general di-
receives to bring under over
all control the activities of
military officers in lending
the weight of their official
status to organized express
slons OF extremist opposition
to the policies of our Gov
eminent. No disciplinary
action against individuals
was called for. The primary
objective of my recommen-
datlon was to insure that
military personnel adhere to
the obligation, which is in
herent in their duty as
soldiers. to refrain from pub
lie expressions of criticism
OF the overall political poll
cles, as distinguished from
the technical military poll
cies, Of the Government and
OF their Commander in
Chief"
Sidney KOretz.
4 4
Constantine Brown reports
from Europe that dispatches
from Washington are listened
to with a genuine interest
akin to anxiety; that no
European questions the sin
certify of President Kennedy's
stern line against the Soviets
but are puzzled ard dis
heartened when contradic-
tory positions are taken by
the Presidents top party
leaders. They wonder ex-
pecially how Senator Full
bright could prevent our
generals and admirals from
speaking up against Com
munists or from arming the
young men under their COM
mand with the knowledge
necessary to prepare them