 What is the most likely reason that Secretary of State Blendwell appointed Malloy for the peace talks?
To violate the rigid social setup of Saarkkad would mean the instant closing off of the supply of biochemical products that the Saarkkadic laboratories produced from native plants and animals—products that were vitally necessary to Earth's war, and which could be duplicated nowhere else in the known universe. It was Bertrand Malloy's job to keep the production output high and to keep the materiel flowing towards Earth and her allies and outposts. It had taken Malloy a long time to get it into Miss Drayson's head that it was perfectly all right—even desirable—for her to keep secrets from everyone except Malloy. But whoever won the armistice would find that some of the now-neutral races would come in on their side if war broke out again.
 He was the closest diplomat available.
 He had the most recent practice maintaining peace.  He was the closest diplomat available.  He was the most qualified to deal with the situation.  He has a reputation for not compromising.