"In this article," Flynn stated, "Mr. Conant says that a total war has automatically eliminated the conservative and what we want now are American radicals . . . That was not in the platform on which the Republican Party just got elected . . . The animating principle of the government just elected is one of conservatism and conservation of the American system. I rather think our people are done, for the moment, with the redicals . . . There must be in the immense population of this country some man who is dedicated to the preservation of the American system rather than the Fabian dream in some one of its numerous forms, whenever a task of great importance is to be undertaken."

Miraculous State

Flynn objected to Conant's use in the article of the term "the miraculous Russian State." It is a curious way to describe the Russian state." Flynn commented.

At this moment Senator Smith interrupted, saying "Many people thought it was miraculous at that time."

Senator Taft broke in, "I certainly did not. I do not know who else thought it was miraculous."

Explaining Conan't desire, as expressed in this article, for a third group of radicals, Flynn said the "answer to his prayer" would be a state "based on the political ideas of Jefferson and his prophets, Emerson, Thoreau and Whitman--I do not think there was too much agreement between Jefferson, Whitman and Thoreau. He would be respectful but not enthusiastic about Marx, Engels and Lenin."

Tobey: "Groucho?"

"No." said Flynn, "this is the old boy himself."

Flynn then emphasized once more "considering all the philosophies that are running wild in Europe, the man who represents us at that particular point where we confront the Communist world and the Socialist world, should be a man at that particular time who represents what is the prevailing philosophy of the American people with only a small dissent from it. I believe, and Mr. Conant does not answer that specification."

Flynn also criticized statements made by Conant in a speech to the Foreign Policy Association on October 4, 1944. He quotes Conant's statement concerning Germany and Japan that "Matters must be so arranged that neither country can become a military power for at least 30 years," as proof that he supported the now discredited Morganthau plan which would have converted Germany into a purely agricultural and pastoral country.

"I suggest that a plan which horrified Secretary Hull and Secretary Stimson and Secretary Byrnes, found a supporter in Mr. Conant," Flynn said, "and I submit in all fairness that if our purpose now is to rekindle the bonds of understanding between the German people and ourselves . . . and the Western World the last man to send to Germany to carry out that mission is the man who was probably the first eminent figure in the educational and intellectual world to publicly support it."

In his testimony, Conant denied strongly that he was ever an advocate of the Morganthau plan or had even heard about it at the time he wrote his article.

Conant and the Schools

Flynn based much of his argument on Conant's speech, "Unity and Diversity in Secondary Education," delivered at a meeting of the American Association of School Administrators in Mechanics Hall, Boston on April 7, 1952.

Flynn attacked the "incredible statement" that private schools are a divisive force, which he claims Conant made in the speech. "How a person can believe that a private school is a divisive force, I do not know, but he cannot believe that unless he believes that religion itself is a divisive force . . . (because) nine-tenths of the private schools are religious schools."