MILITARY SITUATION IN THE FAR EAST

TUESDAY, MAY 15, 1951

COMMITTEE ON ARMED SERVICES AND THE

COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN RELATIONS,

UNITED STATES SENATE,
Washington, D. C.

The committees met, pursuant to adjournment, at 10 a. m. in the caucus room, Senate Office Building, Senator Richard B. Russell (chairman, Committee on Armed Services), presiding.

Present: Senators Russell, Connally (chairman, Committee on Foreign Relations), Wiley, George, Smith of New Jersey, Green, Hickenlooper, McMahon, Lodge, Sparkman, Gillette, Brewster, Bridges, Saltonstall, Johnson of Texas, Morse, Knowland, Hunt, Cain, Stennis, Flanders, and Long.

Also present: Mark H. Galusha and Verne D. Mudge, of the committee staff of the Armed Services Committee; Francis O. Wilcox, chief of staff; Thorsten V. Kalijarvi, staff associate, Committee on Foreign Relations.

Chairman RUSSELL. Gentleman, the first matter that we have before us is in the motion of Senator Morse that each member of the committee be limited to 30 minutes in his questions as we go about the table under the order that we have followed up until now. Those of you who favor that motion will say "aye."

(Chorus of "ayes.")

Chairman RUSSELL. Those opposed will say "No."

(No response.)

Chairman RUSSELL. The Chair hears no "noes" so the "ayes" have it. The motion is unanimously agreed to.

Senator Flanders requested a few minutes to make a statement this morning before we welcome General Bradley officially.

Senator FLANDERS. Mr. Chairman, when you were making your observations yesterday morning with regard to being sure that no secrets leaked out, I sat here in smug self-righteousness and listened to you. I do not know that any secrets leaked out through my agency, but as a matter of fact I did apparently say things that I did not intend.

I am not a radio fan: I do not listen to the radio unless there is some particular reason, so I was not aware until later that the radio broadcasts yesterday morning were indicating that I thought the war was going to end or something of that. I did not hear them, so I do not know.

I was, however, surprised when I got hold of the first edition of yesterday's Evening Star, against which I was headlined and Senator

Kefauver was modestly put down two lines below the top as indicating that there was big news going to break.

Now as nearly as I can remember-this all seemed incidental to me at the time. As near as I can remember the original story came about something like this: Being asked over the telephone by a reporter, I think for a broadcast, as to what I thought was the interesting thing in Saturday's hearing, and I thought that General Marshall's optimism was the most interesting thing in that hearing. And "What was it all about?" And I said, "He seemed to think that we might have some very favorable developments before long."

And "What were they?"

I said, "I can't tell; read the record."

And two or three other reporters called up, and I said, "Read the record." And when I came to look at the record of Saturday, the words in which that was expressed had been deleted, and anyone who read the record could not find them.

I assure you, Mr. Chairman, that I fervently hope that this will not ruin our political and military program in Korea, and wish further to assure you that it has been an experience from which I have learned a little something, probably not enough, but I still have learned a little something from it, and will not make exactly the same mistake again. I may make some other kind, but not this kind.

Chairman RUSSELL. I may assure you, Senator Flanders, that my remarks of yesterday were not directed to any predictions. Any Senator is free to make any prediction he might desire to make, having due regard, of course, to the fears they might boomerang on him. I did not have predictions in mind. I think any Senator can make any predictions he wishes. I was talking about quoting what transpired within these walls relating to this testimony. Any prediction any Senator wishes to make would not, of course, come within the scope of my admonition.

Senator FLANDERS. I do suggest, if it is agreeable to you, Mr. Chairman, that this part of the proceedings be considered as highly restricted and be not spread upon the public record.

Chairman RUSSELL. Under the procedure that we have adopted, Senators Flanders, I am afraid that will have to address itself to the discretion of Admiral Davis.

Senator FLANDERS. All right. I just thought that if left as I worded it, it would strengthen the impression that there was something definite and important-it would strengthen that impression.

Chairman RUSSELL. I am sure that Admiral Davis will take due note of your suggestion, but I doubt very much whether it will be compelling with him as to whether or not it should be deleted.

Senator FLANDERS. That is right.

Chairman RUSSELL. Gentlemen, we are glad to welcome here today General of the Army Omar N. Bradley, who is the third of America's great military leaders to appear before this committee.

BACKGROUND OF WITNESS

To my mind, General Bradley holds a unique position in the history of our country. He is not only one of the ablest of our fighting generals, a man who has earned promotions by his actions on the field of battle, but he is one of the most efficient administrators, as was demon

strated by his efficiency in running one of the largest and most complex businesses in this country, our Veterans' Administration.

But even more important than that, he has earned the respect and affection of the American people as a man with a rare combination of qualities of great humanity and great humility.

Throughout the world's history popular and successful generals have earned their descriptive titles, and have been known by those

titles.

A few of those that come to mind are "The Swamp Fox," "The Iron Duke," "Unconditional Surrender," "Stonewall," "Old Rough and Ready." There have been any number of adjectives used to describe those who have obtained success in war.

But it is particularly fitting that General Bradley emerged from World War II with but one characterization, and that was "The GI's general."

These titles given to them are usually used to measure people's feeling toward their leaders. In this case, I believe the term was a fitting recognition of the fact that here was a man who, despite his high rank and commanding position, still walked in sufficient humbleness to look at the world through the standpoint of the common soldier, the man who carries a rifle.

It is seldom that a nation, however great, is blessed with such leaders. I feel it is one of the finest tributes that could be paid to our democracy to say that we can produce men of that character and type.

I know, of course, that it would be impossible here to go into great length into General Bradley's great accomplishments and his contributions to the Nation; and it is unnecessary to do so because they are as well known to all of the members of the committee, and indeed to all the American people, as they are to me.

We do know that he was a fighting general in the days when the fighting was hot and under great handicaps in Africa and in Sicily. There he demonstrated the qualities to which I have referred.

Had he chosen to retire after the German surrender, his place in history would have been secure; but he did not make that decision. Instead he went on to some of the toughest jobs his country had to offer that at the Veterans' Administration, to which I referred; the Army Chief of Staff; Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

He appears before this committee today to give us the benefit of his experience and counsel with us in the crucial plans that we face.

PREVIOUS COMMITMENTS OF WITNESS

Now, General, before you begin your testimony, I would like to know what your commitments are for the rest of the week. I heard you, I believe, when we were talking to Senator Knowland and the photographers were taking our pictures, you mentioned some addresses you had had scheduled for some time to deliver at Los Angeles or some other place in California.

I would like to find out if these commitments have been outstanding for some time, in order that the committee know that you should be entitled to fill them. So, will you please tell us first what those commitments are.

General BRADLEY. Mr. Chairman, as you undoubtedly all know, for the last couple of years instead of having separate service days we have had an Armed Service Day, in which all the services get together.

That comes on the third Saturday of the week ending with the third Saturday in May. I believe you will find that all the Chiefs of Staff have made commitments that they have had for some time. I know this commitment that I made here in Los Angeles was made a month or two ago in connection with Armed Services Day.

Out there they are having their principal get together on Friday noon. Then a further display on Saturday. So long as I was going to be out there, I agreed to appear off the record with the press club Thursday night, similar to the Washington Press Club, that we all have to go to once in a while.

Then Friday noon at this principal celebration and then Saturday evening I agreed to go to the display where there will be several thousand people in a ball park, a display of equipment, and so forth.

So actually my first one is Thursday night. If I have to cancel it, I will get in a little trouble, but I am just hoping I could leave here sometime Wednesday night, so as to get out there for that 6 o'clock in the afternoon of Thursday, if possible.

Chairman RUSSELL. Well, am I correct in assuming that you can be with us today and tomorrow, all day, without interfering with your commitments?

General BRADLEY. Yes, sir.

Chairman RUSSELL. General, due to the unusual nature of these hearings, the committee has voted that I, as chairman, should administer the oath to all witnesses appearing. You will therefore stand and raise your right hand.

Do you swear that the evidence which you are about to give to this committee, upon the matter under inquiry, shall be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?

General BRADLEY. So help me God.

[Procedural matter deleted.] Chairman RUSSELL. Senator Lodge. (Discussion off the record.)

AFTERNOON SESSIONS OF COMMITTEE AND LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM

Senator BREWSTER. The majority leader said to me yesterday that he proposed to object to afternoon sessions. When he was in here he thought we had to give them up, and I do not know whether he discussed that with you or not.

Chairman RUSSELL. It had not been discussed with me and I had told all of the members of the committee who had asked me anything about afternoon sessions that I hoped that we could have them on those afternoons when it was apparent that no votes would be had in the Senate.

Of course, I realize where matters of importance are being voted upon, it is very difficult to have an effective meeting of the committee. Senator BREWSTER. If the schedule could be worked out so that we would know if we were to have afternoon sessions, why one could plan a little. Could we discuss that with the majority leader and see whether he could work out a week's schedule or so?

Chairman RUSSELL. I endeavored to do that on Monday but at that time it was thought that the reciprocal-trade bill would be under consideration. Now it develops, I believe, that that is to be taken up Thursday, isn't it, Senator George?