Evening star., 1950-10-01


it's associates seemed to have sue
ceeded fully.
Throughout Europe and Asia
the stories about the forces OF the
great American republic being de-
feated by the armies of the Peo-
pies Republic of North Korea
made a deep impression.
The masses in the satellite
states of Europe-who, despite the
heavy pressure of their Moscow
controlled government, still look to
the West for their salvation-were
even more disheartened than for
merly. Our own Allies in Western
Europe were beginning to think in
terms of neutrality"
If American ground, naval and
air forces could not cope with Is
or 20 divisions of Asiatics, what
were the chances of Atlantic pact
nations resisting the full strength
of Russia's 18Q divisions, backed
by a Red air force at least twice
the size of the Vests.
There was a feeling among the
war-weary Western European ma
tions that they had backed the
wrong horse. They all paid lip
service to the United Nations
which had ordered the Korean
defense operation on Washington's
instigation.
Fine for Propaganda
The 10 members of the United
Nations who are included in the
Atlantic pact provided a small
number of ground troops for the
Korean campaign. The rest apol-
ogized and explained, with good
deal of justification, that condl-
tions in their own homelands die
not permit any real assistance
except in the form of few light
warships.
The governments were all root
ing for us, but the people them
selves began to have grave doubts
about our ability to maintain even
the Pusan beachhead for long
Russian propaganda had a field
day. It's radio broadcasts sang the
praises of the small" North Ko-
rean forces which were delivering
fatal blows to the American colos-
sus with feet of clay"
A greatly embellished story OF
the North Koreans victories was
told to the peoples of Asia ano
Europe. Detailed accounts OF the
tragic fate of American armed
forces at the hands of a country
with only eight million inhabi-
tants-but fired by the love o1
.proletarian freedom"-were CIV
en- the peoples behind the iror
curtain.
In Western Europe the Commu-
nists, who are still strong. were
telling the others that it would be
folly to be in tow of America. Any
idea of rearming the West to re-
sist the forces Of progress" rep
resented by the y. S. S. r. was
ridiculed. Russia was not the
enemy of Western Europe, the
story went. 1t was merely at
tempting to Iberate the little fel-
lows from the clutches of the Wall
Street imperialists represented by
the American Government.
The reaction, particularly IN
France-which our diplomats and
general staff still regard as the
pivot of Europe's defense against
the East-was serious for us
Premier Rene Pleven felt COM
PEELED to request. at time when
we needed every available foot
soldier for Korea. that at least
five American divisions be sent to
Europe forthwith.
Soviet Too Sure
The wind of neutrality which
was blowing all over Western Eu-
rope threatened the existence OF
the various constitutional govern
ments on the continent. 1t looked
as though the Russian coup in
Korea had removed the last props
from the Vests hope of resisting
Moscow's encroachments.
A defeated nation can't keep
anybody else on its bandwagon.
And 1t looked like we were going
to suffer a real defeat in the
Korean peninsula. Even in our
own country some brilliant minds
who for some time had advocated
that we cut our commitments in
Korea began to humble that Pres
ident Truman - without much
thought-had been rushed into an
action which would have fatal
consequences for our prestige.
The men who believe that
Americas role is to save the world
through economic and financial
assistance did not speak loudly.
because a nation whose sons are
dying on the battlefield will not
accept such criticisms gracefully.
Soviet propaganda took ad-