Show Marquis Childs Chi What's What True About Forrestal v WASHINGTON ASHINGTON More than any other figure In the Truman administration tion Secretary of Defense Defense De De- James Forrestal has been the target 0 of criticism and attack attack at at- tack since the tho November elec dee tion Punch after punch has been aimed at nt the man who has the tough h taut look of a veteran prize fighter In most of these attacks he i in Is represented as the spokesman of big business until business until his resignation resignation resignation nation in 1910 1940 he was president of the powerful financial firm of Dillon Read and Company Company- seeking to r res restore C s t tor 0 r c private ownership and the old cartel system In Germanys Germany's Ruhr He HeIs Heis Heis Is also accused of being imperialistic im and Zionist anti-Zionist because because because be be- cause of his public insistence that oil oU from the Middle East Eastis is essential to American se security security security se- se and the success of the Marshall plan From this the attack has been carried one step further to link him with Secretary of State George C. C Marshall and Undersecretary Undersecretary Undersecretary Under Under- secretary Robert A. A Lovett both to retire in a week as sponsors of Russian anti-Russian foreign policy He has been called a 8 warmonger and his resignation has been predicted and freely anticipated by his attackers Significant Answers During this period Secretary Forrestal has said nothing Because Because Because Be Be- cause it seemed important to tome tome tome me to try to get some Idea of his views I submitted questions to him related to the attacks made on him Now that it is clear to him that he will remain in the c cab cabinet a b i n net e t indefinitely which means at least a year his answers ii h have a v e an even greater interest The questions and the answers by Secretary Forrestal follow Question Do you have any interest in Dillon Read and Company that has continued down to the present If so what is the nature of that in interest interest interest in- in terest 1 If you were to retire would you expect to go back to Dillon Read 1 Answer I do not have and have not had since 1940 any interest in Dillon Read and Company I have made no plans for activity when I retire from government service Question In your opinion would Dillon Read benefit if it industry in the Ruhr were re restored restored restored re- re stored to private owners from the past Answer I have no knowledge of the activities or interests of that firm at the present time but I see no likelihood of any American investment participation participation pation in the industry of the Ruhr No Opinion on Ruhr Question Are you in favor of restoring industry in the Ruhr to the German Gennan corporations corporations corporations corpora corpora- that held ownership to 1910 1940 Answer This question has not come before me and I have no opinion Question In your opinion is it possible to restore capitalism of the American free enterprise type in western Europe and specifically in western Germany Germany Germany Ger Ger- many Answer 1 I find it impossible ble to predict the form of business business business busi busi- ness enterprise which will prevail prevail prevail pre pre- vail in western Europe and in western Germany Question Question- Do you believe that war with communism as represented in the Soviet Union and the satellite countries is almost certain to come within say a decade Answer No one in a free democracy dc ever can accept war as inevitable Any concept of war initiated by the United States Is unthinkable What in your opinion are the prospects for peace in the next two or three years Answer If we can maintain a reasonable degree of military strength and conduct ourselves with ith calmness and reason I think peace can be maintained Question What is your role in helping to shape American foreign policy Only an nn Agent Answer American foreign policy is shaped by the dent The department of state acts as his agent in the expression expression expression sion of that policy The national military establishment takes part only to the extent of ot its statutory as a participant in the national security security rity council which is is' is charged with the duty of advising the president with respect to the integration of ot domestic foreign and military policies so as to enable the military services and the other departments and agencies of government to cooperate co operate more effectively in matters mat mat- tars involving national security Question What is your explanation explanation ex ex- for the attacks di directed directed di- di directed against you in recent weeks Answer I do not have haye reliable reliable reliable reli reli- able information which would enable me to answer this ques ques- ques- ques tion Other men want Secretary Forrestal's job That may be bea a source of the attacks But even if the rivals now subside he will remain as will be shown in a following column a controversial contro contro- figure Copyright 1949 United Feature Syndicate |