Nation: The Devil's Advocate Returns

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Arthur Goldberg had talked so often of resigning as Ambassador to the United Nations that when he actually did it last week, apparently because he would be bypassed in any negotiations with North Viet Nam, there was no surprise left. But the choice of his successor was surprising—until it was analyzed.

Former Under Secretary of State George W. Ball was the Administration's most articulate war critic when he quit Washington for Wall Street in 1966. Candidly calling himself "the devil's advocate," he persistently opposed deepening the U.S. involvement in what he terms the Vietnamese "gluepot." Far more Europe-minded than his friend Dean Rusk, Ball believes that by making Viet Nam a major battleground with the Communists, the U.S. has failed to cope adequately with De Gaulle, jeopardized any new approach to China, and let the problem of a divided Germany fester far too long.

As a private citizen, Ball has openly expressed his strong doubts about U.S. foreign policy, notably in his recent book The Discipline of Power, but has characteristically kept his criticism within diplomatic bounds—and has kept the President's friendship as well. Despite their differences, Johnson often quietly called on his former Under Secretary of State for counsel, and only recently Ball drafted a secret policy paper for the President on the Pueblo seizure.

By bringing Ball back into the Government, Johnson obviously hopes to demonstrate his determined commitment to honorable negotiations with Hanoi. The appointment may also serve notice to Europe that the Administration is still mindful of that continent. And before his U.N. appointment, Ball threw his political support behind Hubert Humphrey.