Evening star., 1946-10-13

Colonel, =. A., Res. Formerly Inspector General
Of United States Army Forces in Korea.
Are the Communists planning to take
over Korea-willy-nilly, whatever the
cost? Certainly, an ABC Primer Of the
Soviet Unions current world tactics
is being written in Korea. The reading
thereof can hardly be exhilerating to
any nom Communist. Objectives OF
America have been purposely distorted
and motives Of American administration
have been persistently discredited.
Recent extremes to which Korean
Communists have gone to disrupt efforts
to establish temporary but functioning
government In South Korea and to
interfere with the recovery Of Korean
economy suggests an affirmative answer.
That no holds are barred and that no
tactics are too bizarre is indicated by
the disappearance this past week, under
dubious circumstances, of Lyuh Woon
Heung, leader OF the leftist Peoples
Party, upon the morning Of an expected
signing Of seven-point coalition agree
meht between Lyuh and one OF the big
three Of the Korean Right. Dr. Kimm
Kinsic, moderate Of the Korean Demo-
gcratic Council.
The methods being used are neither
complicated nor original. They follow
the pattern adopted by all Soviet
inspired Communists. 1t is eyiden
that instruction has gone out from
Moscow. The procedure invariably in
cludes sabotage In all the ways open to
a power taking advantage Of, and de-
termined to use, the tolerance accorded
such methods by the democracies.
Free Korea Stymied.
It Is a matter Of record that the
Korean leftists have recently refused
to participate in the celebration of the
first anniversary OF the Allies victory
over Japan, have opposed the military
governments desire to bring about
Korean legislative body in South Korea,
have denounced the $25 200, 900 credit
loan granted by the United States For
eign Liquidation Commission to Korea
early In August, and have instigated
riots and other forms Of violence de-
signed to terrorize Koreans, tntimidate
Korean officials and embarrass the
American effort to turn South Korea
over to the responsible democrattic
elements of the population through
accepted democratic processes.
AS practical proposition free Korea
is stymied. This is tragedy for Korea.
Yet even the fate of 10000, 600 Koreans
is less at stake than the fulhllment OF
the role Of democracy functioning real
istically In a modern world no longer
separate In any Of its parts. Should
America fail to bring democracy to
Korea such failure would be tantamount
to the crucifxion of this theology IN
the Orient for many generations to
come-in spite Of considerable American
success In Japan. That this must not
happen is reason enough for becoming
interested in the fate of Korea.
Korea was liberated more than q year
ago after nearly 40 years OF japanese
control and domination. Unhappily,
Korea is still neither free nor soon to
become free in the sense Of being an
independent entity in the family OF
sovereign states. The reason for this
Is really very simple ethe machinery set
up in high-sounding phrases by leaders
of the great nation victors OF World
War II to make Korea again sovereign
and free has begged down.
One Half Armed Camp.
Allied to this simple reality is the
sinister fact that Korea, although q
liberated" not q conquered, country,
Is now, controlled and occupied by two
different nations processing two sep.
arate ideologies. Each nation applies
the term democracy" to Its own concept
of government. AS In other world sore
spots" the Soviet Union co-respo ponsible
in this instance for carrying out the
solemn promise for an independent
Korea-has taken the now commonly
expected tack Of refusing to participate
in that important task except upon
terms directly opposed to Korean self
determination and self-respect. This
non participation has been the direct
prelude to the Use of violencean old
communistic strategem,
One half OF Korea is, for all practical
purposes, an armed camp Of Soviet
soldiers living of the somewhat meager
food and fuel stores available, and paid
Communist organizers occasionally
Korean-for whom the people Of Korea
living north Of the 3sth parallel are the