Evening star., 1949-11-22
The ANGUS Ward Appeal

The Angus Ward Appeal
In terms of leading to prompt and salts
factory results, the State Departments
thirty nation appeal in the Angus Ward
case may prove to be more spectacular
than effective. Nevertheless, whether it
succeeds or not, it at least has the virtue
of dramatizing the fact that the Chinese
Communist regime at Peiping-which pur-
ports to be government and which has
been recognized as such by the Soviet
Union-is guilty Of violating what every
civilized country has long regarded as the
basic concepts of international relations.
The appeal-addressed by Secretary
Acheson to the foreign ministers Of all
nations with representatives in China
has emphasized the point that the Peiping
Reds have followed course that should
be of "direct and immediate concern" to
any country interested in upholding rules
vital to normal diplomatic intercourse.
Ever since November, 1948, doing violence
to those rules, they have held our American
consulate staff under house arrest at Muk-
den; and for the past four weeks, carrying
their Ill will to an outrageous extreme,
they have kept Consul General Ward and
four of his aides incommunicado behind
prison bars, on charges of having beaten
a Chinese employe in wage dispute.
At any rate, it is presumed that the five
are in jail. Actually, however, as matter
of demonstrated fact, we cannot be sure
about that. For the Communists, despite
our repeated protests, have contemp-'
tuously refused to let us have any contact
with Mr.. Ward, and they have failed to
tell us where he is or whether he and his
associates are sick or well. As Secretary
Acheson has declared, all this is in direct
violation of the universal practice" of
permitting consuls, even when accused Of
criminal acts, to remain at liberty on bail
and to have freedom to communicate with
their governments. It is a violation, In
short, that runs barbarously counter to
standards developed through the centuries
to civilize the conduct OF international
relations.
One Of the recipients Of the State De-
partment's appeal is Soviet Foreign Min
lister Vishinsky. But it remains to be seen
whether he will express to the Peiping
as "the concern which your government
undoubtedly feels over the treatment"
accorded Mr.. Ward. There Is some reason
to doubt that the Kremlin undoubtedly"
feels that way, the reason being that its
puppets elsewhere-in Poland, In Hungary,
in Northern Korea, etc.-have several
times handed out much Of the same sort
of treatment to citizens of the United
States and other Western countries. In
deed, such CASES have been frequent
enough to add UP to pattern strongly
suggesting deliberate and systematic
policy which Moscow has inspired for
reasons known only to ITSELF -,
But whatever may be Mr.. Vishinskys
response, Mr.. Acheson's appeal has more
than little potential force in it. Thus,
by placing them on the defensive before
the civilized countries Of the world, it may
have the effect Of making 1t diff1cult for
the Chinese Communists to hold fast to
their present course without at the same
time persuading number Of governments
notably those in the British Common
wealth-to check tendency to extend
early diplomatic recognition to them. That
H one CoIlSlueIdtloH tIldt may Ue uupo1 tdut
to the Peiping regime-perhaps important
enough to cause it to abott-face in its
treatment of Angus Ward.
The appeal, of course, falls far short OF
the direct action advocated by some Amer
leans. But it makes sense as one OF several
moves-including possible steps in the
United Nations-that can be taken with
out show of physical force. After all,
considering the explosive state Of the
world and the tremendously complicated
Chinese situation, the idea Of resorting
to force-such as landing the Marines
seems childishly reckless when there are
still available other pressures that can be
applied without starting something that
could blow up into war.