Evening star., 1950-06-18

Will get peace treaty or VIII con
The decision should be know
John Foster Dulles. special advise
Defense Secretary johnson and @,
Chiefs Of Staff. will return from
their present investigation trips to
the Far East by the first Of July
and their reports should be avail
able to Secretary Acheson shortly
thereafter.
None of these three top Gov
eminent officials Is going to Japan
to negotiate anything. They are
going there with completely open
minds to make what amounts to
a fresh start on a problem that
has troubled the State Depart
ment-and Gen. MacArthur-for
a long time.
The fact that the Defense De-
partment Is so heavily represented
in this new approach to . peace
treaty for Japan points up the
umbilical connection between the
defense system which this Govern
ment is building in the Far East
and the final liquidation of the
state Of war there.
Japan Better Protected
The American Government Is
building its defenses against So
Wet Russia and its satellites along
the Japan Okinawa = Philippines
line. We already hold the center
Of that line with our own bases
on Okinawa, but the extremities
are still uncertain quantities.
The Philippines are pretty wide
open right now, from the stand
point both of external and inter-
nal defense against communism.
But the hopeful thing Is that the
situation is being discussed and
out Of that discussion viii come
a clearer idea. at least, Of what
is needed to protect the left flank
of Americas first line in the
Pacific.
Japan is by no means as
scantily protected as are the
Philippines. for the United States
still maintains an occupation
army there. But the question Is
whether, as the need for o peace
treaty grows, we are going to re-
diee o,Ir forces there or increase
them.
The Japanese mo war" con-
stitution forbids the maintenance
Of regular armed forces. Thus, as
things stand today. We cannot
count on the Japanese defending
themselves against Communist ag-
gression. The japanese police
probably can cope with any likely
internal threat from communism,
but as the Red fifth column grows
and the fact that it Is growing
is pretty clear-the need for
strengthening internal security
will increase.
In q world in which no great
power was threatening aggression
on many sides there would be no
need for an army In Japan, and
the United States could pull out
whenever 1t became certain that
the country could not again
menace the peace and happiness
Of its neighbors.
But 1t is not that kind of world
yet. And there Is one great
power-Soviet Russia allied with
Communist China-threatening to
conquer not only all Of Asia, but
all Of the world. The United
States cannot, therefore. simply
walk out Of Japan and expect
it to remain what we are making
it now, q free democratic country
which is taking again its proper
place In the family Of nations.
Rearmament Problem
This need. then. for defense
Of Japan in the United States
own interest If not in the interest
Of the Japanese. raises grave ques-
tions Of whether we should per-
NIT Japan to rernilitarize, should
keep Japan completely demili-
tarized and provide all Of its de-
lenses ourselves, or should arrive
at some combination Of the two.
Remilitarization Of Japan. as
much as it may become necessary,
Is likely to cause o lot Of misgiv-
ings, for the opportunity to have
an army is the opportunity to Gre
ate a new military caste system,
and it was the old military which
was at the bottom Of all Japan's
troubles.
A new army for Japan Is a
fundamental question which must
be answered one way or other in
preparing q peace treaty. II 1t Is
decided that the time has arrived
for a treaty. then this question
will have to be faced, for it must
state whether Japan is permitted,
over the long term, to have armed
forces and within what limits.
The principle on which the
United States combats commu-
nism In foreign lands is that we
help those who help themselves.
II this principle is not to be con-
travened. Japan must be per-
mitted to help itself in a military
way. although this is contrary to
everything we have done hereto
fore with respect to Jap disarma-
ment.
One basic question, then, which
MIR. Dulles. Mr.. johnson and Gen.
Bradley viii have In their minds
as they talk to Gen. Macarthur
and the japanese leaders is
whether Japan Is to be permitted
to rearm at all. On the basis Of
the answer TO that question the
defense chiefs can determine how
much and what kind Of armament
should be permitted.
Even II some kind Of defensive
armament il aIiovvad $bA Tapana~a