| Show Marquis Childs Little Known About New Chief of Navy v WASHINGTON ASHINGTON Seldom in recent years has an individual been named to high office in Washington so little known to the general public as Francis P. P Matthews When he was nominated by President Truman to be be secretary of the navy there was comparatively ely little the papers could find to say about his career or his life Mattews was the choice of Secretary of Defense Louis Johnson John ohn- J son Since Johnson is captain of oC the defense team he should be beable beable beable able to pick out the subordinates who will play important parts on that team There Is one phase of Mattes Mattews Mattews' Mattews Mat- Mat te s record which although little known is quite thoroughly documented In the light of his appointment to office just under cabinet rank in the Truman administration administration administration ad ad- ministration It is a curious record Headed C. C of or C. C Group Mattews is chairman of the Securities Acceptance Corp of Omaha Neb in 1946 19 and 17 47 he headed the committee on socialism socialism socialism social social- ism and communism of the Chamber of Commerce of the United States That committee published in 1917 a page 57 pamphlet on Communism Within the Gov Gov- This pamphlet at attacks attacks attacks at- at tacks the foreign policy of the United States suggesting that important policy decisions were dictated by Communists who had Infiltrated into high position in Washington It repeats charges made by prejudiced sources and often repudiated by official spokesmen for the Truman ad ad- ministration A real service could be rendered rendered rendered ren ren- dered the pamphlet says if the secret story of Yalta and Teheran could be made public Much that tha t is sordid would be revealed by a complete inquiry but it would furnish the basis for an intelligent and realistic foreign policy It would also further document the need for loyalty and security in federal employment policies Betrayed at Yalta The implication is repeated several times that the national interests of oC this country were betrayed at the Yalta and Teheran Teheran Teheran Te Te- Te- Te heran conferences because of the prompt prompting ng of Communists in influential positions A similar similar similar sim sim- ilar charge is made with respect to the Potsdam conference at which President Truman who had then succeeded Roosevelt represented the United States Incidentally when he was in inthis inthis inthis this country recently Winston Vinston Churchill in an the record reply to a question gave a spirited spirited spir spir- defense of the decisions taken at Yalta where he represented represented rep rep- resented Britain Churchill in indicated indicated indicated in- in that in the forthcoming instalments of his memoirs he would present this same defense defense de de- It is well known says says says' the pamphlet that forces in the State department are pushing the cause of the Chinese Communists Communists Communists Com Com- against the constituted National government of China The authors of such memoranda should be investigated Defined b by Secretaries This frequently repeated charge has been denied by at least two secretaries of state Certain far eastern experts in inthe inthe inthe the department sought to inform this government on the grave weaknesses within the Nationalist Nationalist Nationalist Nation Nation- alist government of China and andin andin andin in the leadership of the Nationalist Nationalist Nationalist Na Na- armies and their warn- warn have been repeatedly borne out by events The pamphlet prepared by Matthews' Matthews committee says that about known Communists hold positions of importance in Washington It suggests that thata a new investigative agency is necessary to cope with the menace menace menace men men- ace of Communist infiltration in government Perhaps the most remarkable part of the pamphlet is the section section section sec sec- tion devoted to specific recommendations Thus the Matthews Matthews' Matthews Matthews' Matthews Matthews' Mat Mat- committee suggests that government be subject subject subject sub sub- to continuing and constant surveillance for loyalty regardless regardless regardless regard regard- less of whether they have been cleared by loyalty boards Catholic Layman Laman Officials in all departments the committee recommends who encounter any evidence of disloyalty in any other department department department depart depart- ment in the course of their activity should be called upon to report their findings to a designated authority Asked whether he still held to the statements in the pamphlet Matthews told at least one in inquirer inquirer inquirer in- in that he thought they were even en more true today than when they were written Matthews is a prominent Roman Catholic layman who has been widely active in the affairs of the ch church Johnsons Johnson's choice for secretary of the arm army is Curtis E. E Calder chairman of the board of Electric Electric Electric Elec Elec- Bond and Share Corp Calder has not yet decided whether to accept the post From all indications Calder and Matthews will be harmonious teammates both coming from the rarefied atmosphere of big finance Copyright United Feature Syn |
