Evening star., 1949-11-24
The Ward Case Issue

ne VQIO AUSS SSSuS
Whether coincidental or not, there is at
least a surface cause -and-effect relation
ship between Cd Secretary Acheson's
thirty-nation appeal in the Angus Ward
case and (2) the fact that the Chinese
Communists at Peiping, within hours after
the announcement of that appeal, released
our American Consul General and his four
aides at Mukden.
Among other things, this development
emphasizes the immaturity and Stiffness
of certain recent proposals to employ
armed force to rescue Mr.. Ward and his
associates. But more important still, 1t
strongly suggests that the Peiping Reds
are not completely Indifferent to the kind
of world public opinion that can be or
ganized, and brought into play as moral
weapon, by just such appeals as Mr.
Acheson's.
That appeal was addressed to the for
eign ministers of all nations (including
Russia) with representatives in China.
It called upon them to express their con-
Germ to Peiping over the treatment ac-
corded Mr. Ward and the Mukden consulate
staff. In effect, indicting the Communist
regime for violating the basic rules OF
civilized international relations, 1t advo-
Gated the formation Of sort OF common
front to uphold standards developed
through the centuries to establish decent
diplomatic intercourse between country
and country.
But the Peiping Reds released the i've
at Mukden so soon after the issuance OF
the appeal that it is not clear whether
many, If any, of the thirty nations had
time to make representations to them.
Though not to be expected from Russia,
numerous other countries indicated, after
receiving Mr.. Acheson's message, that they
would take such action, and the question
now is whether they should still take 1t
even though Mr.. Ward and his aides have
been freed from jail.
Considering the peculiarly outrageous
conduct of the Chinese Communists in
this case, and considering also that they
are still following somewhat similar
course toward our military attache in Nam
king, Mr.. Acheson's appeal would seem to
have almost as much point today as it had
yesterday or the day before. In other
words, In behalf Of civilized international
relations, the countries appealed to might
do well-despite the release OF the Ward
group-to tell Peiping that they take a
decidedly dim view Of its behavior as
measure Of eligibility for membership in
the family Of governments.
Some such action by large number OF
countries conceivably might have sober
ing effect on the Chinese Reds. After all,
they are bidding for recognition and for
place In the United Nations, and it is just
barely possible that they can be persuaded
to improve their conduct. In broader
sense, moreover, since there has been q
rash Of Ward cases elsewhere behind the
Iron Curtain, even the Kremlin-presum-
ably the inspirer of the whole business
might be Impressed II the non-Soviet world
grew really emphatic In demanding a
restoration Of decent diplomatic practices
everywhere.
Indeed, the issue involved in the Ward
case is 50 important, and has been brought
to such head in so many Soviet satellite
lands, that 1t may well deserve the special
attention Of the United Nations in full
session. In any case, some sort OF inter-
national action now would seem to be
needed to check the current drift away
from civilized relations among govern
ments. -