Evening star., 1950-07-14
The u. NJ, Korea and the West

Tt is welcome news that several members of
the United Nations have offered to place some
percentage of their ground forces at the disposal
of General Macarthur in the extremely difficult
and critical effort to stop and repel the Red
invasion of Southern Korea.
The overwhelming majority of the countries
belonging to the u N.-well over two-thirds-
have already committed themselves, legally and
morally, to this fateful enterprise That COM
mitment is impressive In itself, but it will become
more impressive still If backed up-to the
greatest feasible extent-by the creation of
genuine international force fighting against the
crime of aggression under the flag of the world
organization.
OF course because Of its special responsible
tiles in the situation and because of such other
factors as geography and available power, the
United States must carry by far the heaviest
part of the grim burden. But the undertaking,
as made clear by the Security Council, is not
a one-country proposition. 1t is task that is
meant to be carried through by the U. N. as
whole, which means all those members (the
only noteworthy exceptions are Soviet Russia
and its. satellites) who have supported the
Councils history making decisions and lined
themselves up against the criminal invasion
launched by the Kremlin's Northern Korean
puppets.
Practically from the very start Of the war
in Korea British Australian and New Zealander
naval and air units have been taking direct
part in the battle in cooperation with American
forces. But no ground troops-other than our
own-have as yet been sent into action by
members of the U. N. The offers have been
made, however, and the problem now is for the
United Nations, the United States and General
MacArthur-who is the overall commander In
keeping with special resolution by the Security
be translated into effective action to organize
a good international fighting force.
The problem is not an easy one. Much as
we could use the help Of our friends In the
Korean struggle, it is doubtful that they can
contribute anything but token ground forces.
The Chinese NationalistS, with their numerous
divisions on Formosa, are an exception, but
there is a real question about the wisdom of
having them enter the battle at time when
there is still at least little hope that Com
munist China may stay out. As for q country
like France, how can 1t join directly in the fight
when it has about 10000 of its best troops
engaged in Indo-C China and when 1t has only
the bareSt minimum Of military manpower avail
able for defense against possible Soviet attack
on the West?
Actually wholly apart from the difficulties
Of supplying large international force in Korea,
there is more than little reason why we should
not plan on many ground troops from other
U. N. members. In Western Europe particularly,
the need for such troops is very great. Our
friends there live under an ever-present threat
Of aggression, and they can Ill afford to send
expeditions to the other side of the world. As
things stand, they do not have nearly enough
to defend themselves against an all-out attack.
For that matter, the United states-which
Is also relatively unprepared-must think long.
hoy ~ n%a
1t should divert to ASIA which strategcally is far
less important than Europe. The Yugoslav
rumors- though they may be excessively alarm
ist-are reminder that the Korean war may be
only foretaste of much grimmer events in the
West.