“There seems to be a surprising conflict in expert opinion,” remarked Mortimer, “and this on a matter of some importance. Can’t we call in the exponents of the conflicting views and come to an understanding here and now?”
“I can send for Commander Rich,” said Admiral Bishop.
“Who are your authorities on the side of the British procedure?” Mortimer asked of Fraley.
“Lieutenant Brown of my office reported on the traffic end of the question,” answered Fraley. “He got his information on the apparatus chiefly from Lieutenant-Commander Elkins of this Bureau and also from a radio gunner who obtained most of the data, as I understand it.”
“Let’s get them all in here and thrash out the problem,” said Mortimer.
Thereupon Commander Rich, Elkins, Brown, and Evans were all summoned. Mortimer was spokesman.
“I chanced to be present,” he said, “as Admiral Fraley was asking Admiral Bishop if there was not some way to overcome the obstacles in the way of supplying the apparatus needed for the adoption of this British procedure which, from the standpoint of operations, he deems so important. From what I heard I gathered that there had been some misunderstanding, and I thought we might clear it right up. Commander Rich, I understand from Admiral Bishop that you have looked into this and concluded that it was not of sufficient importance to warrant the expense of making the necessary changes. Am I right in my understanding?”
Evans and Elkins both looked at Commander Rich in surprise. He appeared perfectly at ease as he replied in a manner which bespoke deference and conciliation: “Mr. Secretary, if I in any way underestimated the advantages of the British procedure, I am sure it was quite unintentional. What I endeavored to do was to sum up the pros and cons as impartially as I could, and to defer to the superior judgment of the Admiral, rather than to seek in any way to influence his decision.”
“It was my impression,” said Admiral Bishop, “that you favored adherence to our standard procedure, a course to which I should naturally incline, to be sure, unless very good reasons for changing were forthcoming. Perhaps, however, I misunderstood your attitude.”
The Admiral’s memory was not clear enough to recall that Rich had reinforced his natural conservatism by intimating, before the meeting at which the matter was first brought up, that changes were about to be proposed which it would be unwise even to consider.