THE WEEK

pledges of one syllable dept. From the Associated Press, Washington, Oct. 2: “The President said his Administration promised to use its best efforts to keep military pay in line with living costs. ‘That’s a pledge we intend to keep,’ he said.”

George Kennan, who retired to Princeton in 1953 (Ike) after almost thirty years in the United States diplomatic service as an expert on Eastern Europe, there being nothing left of Eastern Europe this side of the Iron Curtain, was recalled in 1961 (JFK) as ambassador to Belgium and later Yugoslavia, from which experiences he has once again retired, not without visiting upon Congress, in public testimony, his private rage at the interventionist arrogance that impels the United States Congress to think it can interfere in the work of Recognized Experts. A swimming pool, said Mr. Kennan, was what he wanted in Belgrade, and he couldn’t have it. A fence around the Embassy he wanted, and he couldn’t have it. A modest addition to the western wing of the ambassadorial palazzo was what he wanted, and Congress, or somebody, wouldn’t let him have it, and he’s going back to Princeton. His pension would be cheap at twice the price.

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pledges of one syllable dept. From the Associated Press, Washington, Oct. 2: “The President said his Administration promised to use its best efforts to keep military pay in line with living costs. ‘That’s a pledge we intend to keep,’ he said.”

George Kennan, who retired to Princeton in 1953 (Ike) after almost thirty years in the United States diplomatic service as an expert on Eastern Europe, there being nothing left of Eastern Europe this side of the Iron Curtain, was recalled in 1961 (JFK) as ambassador to Belgium and later Yugoslavia, from which experiences he has once again retired, not without visiting upon Congress, in public testimony, his private rage at the interventionist arrogance that impels the United States Congress to think it can interfere in the work of Recognized Experts. A swimming pool, said Mr. Kennan, was what he wanted in Belgrade, and he couldn’t have it. A fence around the Embassy he wanted, and he couldn’t have it. A modest addition to the western wing of the ambassadorial palazzo was what he wanted, and Congress, or somebody, wouldn’t let him have it, and he’s going back to Princeton. His pension would be cheap at twice the price.