Evening star., 1946-03-18

Fighting Trusteeship,
fThis is the fifth OF series
The Star. Just returned from tri
Secretaries OF War and Many. The
By B. M.
Associate Edi,
A man on the spot is 1t. Gen
United States forces in Korea Sc
which divides that unhappy ce
American liberators.
The news developments of tn
define his position. In the meant
and informal conversation, it may
be worth recalling Gen. MacArthur's
estimate of Gen. Hodge, mar
who inspires confidence because oil
the manifest integrity of his con-
duct" 1t is my impression, formed
during brief visit to Korea, that
while many intelligent Koreans will
privately agree with Gen. MacAr-
thurs appraisal of Gen. Hodge, poll
tics may require them to throw as
many bricks in his direction as those
which are directed from north OF
the 38th parallel. AS for Gen. Hodge
he philosophically accepts his posi-
ton as between the devil and the
deep blue sea.
One Of the curious anomalies OF
our liberation" of Southern Korea
is that the liberated Koreans seem
to feel more resentment toward the
|liberating Americans than the Jap
anese feel toward the troops occupy
ing their country as conquerors.
Resent Trusteeship Idea.
The resentment may be imper-
sonal, uninfluenced by any antagon-
ism toward Americans - to whom
many Korean leaders are bound by
ties OF genuine affection and from
whom they expect many blessings to
flow. But there is resentment be-
cause of the injection of the idea of
"truSteeship" in connection with oc-
cupation of the country. The term,
1 am told, has the precise meaning
in japanese dictionaries as the type
of sovereignty the japanese exer-
cised over Korea since the turn of
the century. Some Koreans are rep
resented as feeling that instead of
the self-government they thought
had been assured by liberia ton from
Japan they have merely inherited a
trusteeship which differs from the
japanese variety only in the identity
Of those who exercise it.
Regardless of the substance of this
antitrusteeship sentiment, it is
merely one of number of compli-
cations facing the American author
tiles, who regard their mission as
turning Korea back to the Koreans
as rapidly as they can let go the
bear they now have by the tail.
Another, and far more veXatious
complication is the dual control
over Korea north and south of the
line. This division is regarded in
Korea as a serious blunder, though
it was undoubtedly expedient when
made. The greatest of all complica-
tions, of course, is the enigma of
Russian policy, not merely north of
the line but south of it-and not
merely in Korea but in other parts
OF the world as WELL
Circumstance has made Korea
one of the dramatic proving grounds
for test of the theory that it is pos,
sible to get along with the Russians.
Speculation as to the outcome is
made more difficult by the studied
disinclination of Americans on the
scene to talk about the facts, for
fear of offending an ally. 1t would
be encouraging if this fear of Of
Tending an ally was reciprocated
north of Parallel 38.
Reports Mostly Second Hand.
There is some evidence that it is
not. Any one who attempts to de-
scribe what has gone on and is going
on north of the dividing line, in
Russian-occupied Korea, is handi-
capped by the knowledge that re-
ports are not merely second and
third hand, but are apt to be highly
colored by anti-Russian feeling. 1
found an admirable attitude of re-
straint, on the part of American Of
ficers, in discussing these reports.
But since American occupation of
Korea there have been an estimated
100000 refugees who have slipped
across the line and have come south.
Many of them are full of talk. There
are stories of how the Russians are
living off the land, of their dis
mantling hydroelectric and other
machinery and sending it out of the
country, of brutal treatment of the
inhabitants. They are the same
stories that one hears of what has
gone on in Europe and in Man.
churia. Verification and presenta-
ton of the cold facts are prevented
by the Russians themselves. They
permit no American to cross the
line to find out and report the
facts.
Yet Russian consul is stationed
in Seoul, which is in our bailiwick.
"A delegation or Russian military
men was entertained by the Amer
leans in Seoul in January for prep
aratory discussions, in advance of
the meeting, scheduled but curiously
delayed, for this month, of the
Americana ussian Commission,
which is to attempt to reach agree