The Press FRIDAY, MAY 15, 1953. The High Commands

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27040, 15 May 1953, Page 8

The Press FRIDAY, MAY 15, 1953. The High Commands

The second change in the Supreme Command of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation has been approved, with only a minute fraction of the speculation, discussion and anxious foreboding which accompanied the first, just on a year ago, when General Eisenhower gave up his military post in Europe to enter the Presidential campaign. This, of course, is a measure of the esteem and trust in which General Eisenhower was held by the partners in West European defence. It was felt that no-one else could have achieved so much in this difficult task of military integration in so short a time; and there were many who believed that no-one else could carry on the project successfully. General Ridgway has shown that those fears were not well founded. The organisation of the great defensive coalition has gone on steadily since General Ridgway replaced General Eisenhower; and such doubts and difficulties as now confront N.A.T.0., mainly economic rather than political or military, are not of a kind which the Supreme Commander can resolve personally. General Ridgway, recognised as one of the greatest field commanders of tlje present day, earned respect in Europe for his qualities as a diplomat and negotiator. His departure would cause more concern now if he were not to be replaced by a soldier who is outstanding in these respects—as the European governments and military commands know very well. As Chief of Staff to General Eisenhower, General Gruenther absorbed much of his chiefs extraordinary skill as a promoter of co-operation among the diverse nationalities and personalities with which the Supreme Commander in Europe must deal. Indeed, it is probably true that most of the Europeans would have preferred General Gruenther as General Eisenhower’s successor. He will take up this vital military office now with their confidence and good will The changes in the military command of the United States are no less important to the world at large than the change in Europe; and they are a good deal more interesting. The selection of a chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to succeed General Omar Bradley has been widely debated in America; and observers have reported that a tense battle over the appointment has been going on behind the scenes. It is generally believed that Admiral Radford’s personality, together with his notable service record, greatly impressed the new Secretary of Defence, Mr Charles Wilson, who decided almost at once that no-one else would do for the position. General Eisenhower is understood to have been reluctant to break with the tradition that an Army man should be chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and to have been doubtful whether Admiral Radford’s intense loyalty to the Navy and his suspicion of the other services, particularly the Strategic Air Command, qualified him well for the post. The appointment of Admiral Radford is reported to have been well received by members of the Congress. There may be some misgivings outside

America. The admiral is something of a fire-eater, impatient of anything he •regards as appeasement, and perhaps far from enthusiastic about the cautious Western policy of “containment”. He was the

originator of. the much-discussed plan to blockade China—a plan which was flatly rejected by the present Joint Chiefs of Staff and which received very little support from responsible persons ih any of the Western countries. Nevertheless, at a time when the American Congress is showing a strong inclination to curtail defence spending, it may be a very real advantage to the United States and its partners to have in this high position a man who can be relied upon to plead vigorously and influentially the cause of adequate national defence.