National Affairs: Mission Oompleted

Grey, ramrod-backed Major General Patrick Jay Hurley came back to Washington last week, presumably to resign as the U.S. Ambassador to China. The handsome, 62-year-old Oklahoman refused to confirm reports that President Truman would soon release him from his war job. But it was obvious that Pat Hurley’s mission was ended.

China and the U.S. would agree that the mission had been highly successful—or at least coincided with success. China had its treaty with Russia and it was peacefully debating with the once rambunctious Chinese Communists. No one, least of all Pat Hurley, would contend that the U.S. Ambassador had brought all this about. Chiang Kai-shek and Premier T. V. Soong had achieved the treaty with Moscow without outside help, and the treaty had immediately broken the back of Chinese Communist resistance.

But shrewd, gregarious Pat Hurley had helped smooth out many a rough spot before Communist Leader Mao Tse-tung traveled the road to Chungking. Behind his façade of storytelling joviality he had worked mightily and effectively for better U.S. understanding of Chiang’s problems, better Chinese understanding of U.S. aims. Before he left Chungking a fortnight ago, he had received the final farewells of the Generalissimo (in whose residence he had lived for a time) and Madame Chiang. On the whole, Pat Hurley could feel well satisfied that he had accomplished his mission.