Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1947-02-02

themselves.
However, the American Soviet
failure to meet squarely Korea's
right to determine her own destiny
is making another tragic mockery Of
the sacrifices made in the name OF
International justice in this country
That this failure has been caused by
Soviet refusal to negotiate on any
but her own unilateral terms does
not make the result any less serious
or unfortunate.
From another point Of view, what
appears to many as American ap-
peasement of communism in the
southern zone of Korea vitiates even
In the American control area the
doctrine of Self-determination and
international justice. Eighty-five pei
cent of the As elective seats in the
90-member Korean Interim Assem-
bly, were won by the three parties
who oppose any temporizing with
communism or any trustee arrange
ment for Korea between American
and Soviet authorities, with or with
out the tacit approval of other pow
ers. However, though not generally
radically Nft, the As members ap-
pointed by the American comman-
der represent those parties who were
unable to win elective seats and who
In several instances, are considered
allied with the Communistic left
Koreans do not understand why any
members of the Korean Interim As
senably should have been appointed
America Losing Face.
Except in certain especially fla
grant instances of disregard for law
and order, American authorities
have given extraordinary leeway to
Communistic elements in South Ko-
rea. At times this laissez faire po-
liticaf attitude has almost amounted
to an invitation to disorder and con-
fusion. The theory has been to avoid
at all cost the possibility of being ac-
cused of witch hunting" Most Ko-
reans feel this is outright appease-
ment. America is rapidly losing
face.
A large measure of the current
martyrdom of Korea grows out OF
confused thinking, writing and ac-
ton in connection with all aspects
of the Korean situation. This con-
fusion cannot be resolved without
objective examination and inter-
probation of the facts. In general,
this has not been done. =.
The most obvious and generally
acknowledged problem in reporting
the Korean situation is caused by
the fact that almost no American
knows anything about Korea or
Koreans. This is true in spite of
Korea's long Independent history
and culturally able people. This
ignorance is largely due to the sue
cess of Japanese policy over a Pc
Rod Of 40 years. Throughout this
period when distant lands were be-
coming known to average Amer
leans, Japan successfully contrived
to keep Korea out of the news
except where it might suit her
purpose to imply that the Koreans
were a backward and inept people.
Americans were induced to believe
that Koreans were not only I'M
able to manage their own affairs,
but were also hot heads, incapable
of political or social equality. Korea
was indeed subjugated land.
Prejudices Crop Up.
Most so-called experts on mod
ern Korea have gained their knowl-
edge and viewpoint from japanese
sources, and even now. whether
they will it or not, have the jap
anese slant about the Korean peo-
pie. The serious implications In
this will be readily seen when a
top American policy maker, seek
ing to get facts about Korea, calls
in an expert whose information
was cleaned from such sources.
Another problem is caused by the
characteristic but generally unreal
lied prejudice factors peculiar unto
most Americans who tend to be
unsympathetic in their face-to-face
contact with peoples who do not
share their own common habits
and mores. These prejudice factors
regrettably crop up when Amer
leans deal with or report the &C
tivities of a people who have rela-
lively few obvious common cultura
or historical similarities with the
American variety Of western cul-
ture.
The Koreans are stubborn people
in the sense that they are consist
ent in their determination not to
take even agreeable strangers toe
seriously. After all, they have re-
tanned their identity as a homo
geneous people for more than Il
centuries. Their way of life ha:
been challenged many times but
never successfully even under the
determination of the japanese tt
destroy all Korean individuality ane
absorb completely Korean identity
Still another type of Official Of
writer, engaged in occupationa
duties or reporting upon the Korean
scene, is the American Communists
or reformer- Liberal. These person.
think they see the Korean as bitter
disillusioned and ripe for com.
munism. Bitter and disillusionee
many of them are, but the indoc'
trinated Communist with hi
learned phrases would be startled t.
realize what unregenerate individ
ualists the Koreans are.
If Russian communism takes owe
Korea it will be by force-and Amer
lean appeasement and complacenc.