Evening star., 1950-12-11
AH|ee Has Shocked
Large Segments Of
American Opinion
Morality and IdeoIism
Seem Abandoned in
Britoin's Chino Policy
By David Laurence g

Dy D0UfU Laurence
Morality and idealism - the
things they play up on the re-
cruiting posters and the things
that American troops have died
for, in two world wars and are
presumably dying for today in
Korea-seem to have gone out of
the vocabulary as well as the
diplomacy of the government Of
Great Britain.
There is no use misleading the
British people or anybody else as
to American attitudes. Prime
Minister Attlee has shocked large
segments Of American public
opinion. He has damaged to an
extent as yet incalculable the
prestige Of his country in the
United States. He has given the
impression that the British gov
ernment not only condones ag-
gression in the Far East but Is
really willing to reward it-even
though on paper he has said ex-
actly the opposite.
For in insisting that the mat
ter Of admission of Red China
into the U. N. is something to be
negotiated for with an aggressor
he has turned his back on the
idealism that prompted the U. N
resolution Of June 26. He has
said in effect that an aggressor
nation not only can go unpun-
ished, but that the previous posi-
tion of the British government In
recognizing Red China has not
been in the slightest degree af-
fected adversely by the wholesale
massacre of U. N. troops in North
Korea and by the invasion of that
country by Red China's tens OF
thousands Of troops.
Not the Expected Policy.
This is not the kind Of policy
Americans had expected to hear
from the spokesman Of Great
Britain. Even if for political rea-
sons inside his own country such
a policy had to be defended. the
communique issued last week was
hardly the place to repeat it. For
it was a disclosure to Red China
that Great Britain and the
United States were in disagree
ment. It created, moreover, the
belief that Britain was willing to
make peace at a price that cast
idealism to the winds.
The communique gives the irp-
preston of fear at a moment
when flrrnness and unity are
essential. The United States
stood its ground and to the ever
lasting credit of President Tru-
man it should be noted that the
American view is unchanged
there can be no reward for ag-
gression, no appeasement. and
there must be instead punishment
and restraint applied against the
agTessor countries.
The British Objective.
The British policy, Of course, Is
prompted by the well-intentioned
objective of avoiding a large-scale
war in the Far East which could
divert military strength of Amer
lea that should be conserved for a
possible war in Europe. But this
policy is nevertheless shortsighted.
1t can, indeed, bring on sooner
that same large-scale war every
body wants to avoid.
This same shortsightedneSs
prompted Britain's diplomats to
condone Hitler's march into the
Rhineland in November, 1886 and
the subsequent moves of aggres-
sion that came from the Axis pow
ers. The League of Nations dealt
then in double talk. too. Today
the British attitude can only en-
courage-it has already encour-
aged-Russia and Red China. 1t
has stimulated overnight the ar
rogance and intensified the inso-
lence of the Communists. It Is
only a question of time now when
the Communist alliance will strike
both in Europe and in Asia against
powers they consider materially
weak and defeated in spirit. To
show weakness is to invite attack.
Americans Want No War.
The American people do not
want war anywhere. They are
not interested in protecting in
vestments anywhere over and
above human life. They have
been and are idealistic in their
attitude toward the U. N. but they
will be driven into a new isolation
"a sense Of frustration-by the
policies of those European and
Asiatic non-Communist powers
which are either afraid to face up
to the facts or feel that they can
negotiate a truce at the price of
sacrificing American troops and
the South Korean population.
The American troops can be
evacuated, of course, if driven to
the beachheads. But what OF
those that have died or been
manned by the struggle which
they were told was for human
freedom? Are diplomats to sit
around a table now and bargain
away the ideals Of the men who
have been giving their lives to
the cause of freedom?
The British are at the cross
roads. They may think they are
helping to conserve America s
military might for their own Sc
curity. America, will, of course,
help in Europe. 1t cannot do
otherwise. But the spirit of COM
radeship, the spirit that gives re-
spect and begets respect is failing
There can be no real spiritual
strength-there can be no reso-
Iuteness to do or die for a great
cause-if a principal partner fal-