Evening star., 1950-11-13
Peiping and Lake Success

It is not altogether surprising that the
Chinese Communists have announced that they
are willing to appear before the United Nations
Security Council only as accusers, not as de-
PENDANTS. This is wholly in keeping with the
propaganda line that they have been following,
along with the Russians ever since the Moscow
inspired North Korean Reds cut loose with ag-
gression last June Is.
Briefly summarized, that line has harped on
the following major points, all of them doing
violence to the truth: (1) That the Councils
historic June decisions were taken illegally be-
cause the Soviet Union (Which was boycotting
the Council at the time) and Red China (which
is not a member of the u NJ were not present.
60 That President Truman's orders to the 7th
Fleet to neutralize the FormoSa region and pre-
vent Communist attack on the island constitute
an act of American aggression against the
Chinese people. And 81 that the Korean opera
tions OF the United Nations have been brought
about unlawfully by the villainous manipulations
of the United States, which is guilty in this
instance of imperialism" intervention" "in-
vasion" and mountaineering" aims against
China and all Asia.
1t Is on these grounds that the Chinese
Communists undoubtedly in concert with the
kremlin-have refused to accept the Security
Councils invitation to have a representative
present at Lake Success for discussion of
General MacArthur's special report on their
large-scale military action against the U. n
Instead, accepting the Councils earlier invita-
tion to take part in hearing on their charge of
American aggression" at Formosa, they have
proposed that the hearing be broadened to in
clude not only that charge but also their "accu-
sation against armed Intervention in Korea by
the United States Government" In other words,
they apparently want the Council to receive
them as injured innocents who have nothing to
answer for but whose grievances entitle them to
prosecute the manipulated United Nations.
If this is to be their fixed attitude at Lake
Success, the arrival of Peiping's representatives
is likely to lead only to procedural wrangle in
the Security Council the sound and fury of
name calling propaganda, and ultimately a
Soviet veto of the pending resolution calling upon
the Chinese Communists to withdraw from
North Korea and assuring them that their
legitimate interests In that part of the world
particularly hydroelectric power-will be fully
protected. If that is how things turn out, then
the issue will have to be acted upon by the
General Assembly, and If Red China-with the
Kremlin's support-still continues to strike
across the Yalu River against the United Nations,
heavy military counter action against Manchuria
may become inescapable, thus gravely increasing
the threat of a large-scale war.
At the moment, however, it would be pre-
mature to Jump to the conclusion that states
manship cannot avert such war For as long
as the Chinese Communists show even quail
fed willingness to negotiate at Lake Success,
there will be at least some reason to hope for
sound and peaceful settlement. That possibility
still exists, and every reasonable effort must be
made to capitalize on 1t.