Evening star., 1962-01-23
INQUIRY
Burke Holds MiIitorv
Should Inform Public

emphasized that it was in the
American tradition for military
leaders to avoid participation
in matters that injected poll
tics into their responsibilities.
He cited Cromwell's rule in
England and the situation that
has long existed in France as
examples of what happens
when the military becomes in
volved in political matters.
Mr.. Lovett at the same time
discounted any fears that there
is a lack of civilian control
over military leaders.
"Alarmist cries about the
lack of civilian control over the
military, in our Nation, deal
with a straw man ISSUE" Mr..
Lovett said. "They are con-
cerned with a problem that
does not really exist"
Question Involved
The broad question involved
in the inquiry, Senator Stennis
said. is what should be the
proper role of the military Of
ficer in matters not strictly
military.
"These questions are of in
creasing and growing impor-
tance today" he continued.
For the first time in our Ma
tion's history we are forced to
maintain large military forces,
even though there is no shoot
ing war, The chairman be-
lieves we will be forced to con-
tinue to maintain these forces
for many years to come. :"
Gen. Eisenhower's statement
said he questioned the desirable
ity "of requiring the topmost
Government officials, whether
military or civilian, to submit
their proposed public state
mentS for what amounts to
censorship of content-as dis
tinguished from security mat
ters-prior to their utterance."
He said he was aware that his
own administration and those
of his predecessors had func-
toned in this way.
Procedure ReasSessed
But, in thoughtful reasSeSs-
ment of this procedure" the
former President added, II in
cline to the view that when
responsible and respected Off
cials feel compelled to submit
to censorship, we are smother
ing the concept of personal
responsibility under a practice
of heavy-handed and unjustified
staff supervision"
Both the former President
and Admiral Burke cited this
country's experience in the
Korean War when number of
captured American soldiers CO.
operated with the Communists
or Joined the Communist ranks.
They said this indicated the
need for more effective troop
information programs.
Gen. Eisenhower referred to
the Korean matter as "our sad
experiences" and Admiral
Burke said this was "a tragic
example of what can hap
peen when American soldiers
are trained only for combat
but not for understanding what
they are fighting for and
against"
Some Reports in Error
Gen. Eisenhower said he hac
heard reports that use of tht
military to inform the public
about the communism menact
stemmed from a 1858 Nationa
Security Council directive
This, I believe, is in error" HI
said.
During his presidency, Gen
Eisenhower said, great pain!
were taken to coordinate thu
efforts of the military and thu
Federal Bureau of Investigation
in combating Communist sub
version.
But to the best of my recol,
lection" he added, there is NJ
national security documen
specifically directing militar,
involvement in the interna
problem, and unless materia
has been taken out of context
or general language interpreted
; very loosely, I think there is NJ
basis for these assertions. E.
Nevertheless, both proce'