in the Pentagon. That’s obviously his right. But until he decides the brass in the Pentagon is right and MacArthur is wrong, what he should do is get out of the way—and keep his people out of the way—of MacArthur, and let him fight this war. Relieving him, or sending Pentagon brass here to look over his shoulder, nit-picking his plans, would be almost criminally stupid.”
Harriman’s face tightened.
“Do you include General Ridgway in your definition of Pentagon brass, Pickering?” Harriman asked.
“I wish, Mr. Ambassador,” Howe said icily, “to associate myself completely with General Pickering’s comments. I shall so inform the President of the United States.”
Harriman looked at him with cold disdain.
“Nothing personal, certainly, General Ridgway,” Pickering said. “But the number-two man in the Army is by my definition ‘Pentagon brass.’ ”
“I never considered ‘Pentagon brass’ to be a pejorative term,” Ridgway said, smiling. “Becoming Pentagon brass is every second lieutenant’s ambition. And I agree that General MacArthur is a military genius.”
That earned Ridgway a look of disdain from Harriman.
“Thank you,” Pickering said.
“On the other hand,” Ridgway said, “there are certain members of the Pentagon brass—General Collins and myself among them—who are yet to be convinced than an amphibious landing at Inchon is either the best tactical move to make, or, indeed, that it’s even possible. That’s not saying we’re against it. Just that right now we don’t have sufficient information to take a pro or con position. I intend to ask General MacArthur to tell me in detail what he plans to do. I don’t know if that could be deemed ’nit-picking.’ ”
“He’s prepared to tell you anything you want to know,” Pickering said. “And he’ll probably do it from memory.”
“My mission here is to gather information for General Collins,” Ridgway said. “And to solicit opinions, specifically from General Howe and yourself, about General MacArthur and the situation here, not limited to the invasion at Inchon.”
“I just thought of something, General Ridgway,” Howe said. “If Truman fires MacArthur, you’d be the likely choice to take his place, wouldn’t you?”
“I hope it doesn’t come to that,” Ridgway said. “Are you asking if that doesn’t pose a conflict of interest for me?”
“That thought ran through my mind, frankly,” Howe said.
“I’d like to think that I’m a soldier, obeying his orders,” Ridgway said. “You’ll have to take my word I didn’t come here looking for MacArthur’s job.”
“Your word is good enough for me,” Howe said.
“Thank you,” Ridgway said.
“What other opinions of ours are you after?” Howe asked.
“There are those who wonder if General Walker is up to the challenge.”
“Relieving General Walker would have enormous political implications,” Harriman blurted.
Howe and Pickering looked at him.
Well, that’s the first Harriman’s heard of that, Howe thought.
I thought diplomats were supposed to have poker faces, Pickering thought.
“Like most Americans, Averell,” Pickering said, “I like to think our senior officers consider political implications as little as possible when making military decisions.”
“Frankly, Pickering, that’s a little naive.”
Pickering shrugged contemptuously.
“If you’re asking whether I think he’s ‘up to the challenge, ’ ” Howe said, “I wouldn’t presume to make a judgment like that.”
“Neither would I,” Pickering said.
“The question in General Collins’s mind—and mine— given that General MacArthur has never been reluctant in the past to relieve underperforming officers is why he hasn’t relieved General Walker. Is it because he’s satisfied with his performance? Or because he feels the same loyalty to him he shows to those who were with him in the Philippines? Or because he doesn’t want to be accused of looking for a scapegoat? Or because if he relieves him, he’s likely to get a replacement not of his choosing?”
“Walker is not a member of the Bataan Gang,” Pickering said. “I don’t think MacArthur even likes him. MacArthur’s not going to criticize a senior officer like Walker to a lowly part-time brigadier, but, having said that, I think I would have picked up on unspoken criticism, and there’s never been even a suggestion of that.”
"MacArthur’s been trying very hard to get General Almond promoted.”
“I’m not surprised. It would be well-deserved,” Pickering said.
“I agree. Almond strikes me as a very competent officer,” Howe said. “I’ve wondered why he’s only a two-star.”
“General Collins does not share those opinions of General Almond,” Ridgway said. “I don’t know why. How does Almond get along with Walker?”
“They don’t like each other,” Pickering said. “But I don’t know why.”
“General Collins is particularly upset by General MacArthur’s plans to have Almond command X Corps. . . .”
“Why?” Howe said. “Isn’t picking his subordinate commanders MacArthur’s prerogative?”