Evening star., 1950-11-12


interviewed in the conflict and she
undo the U. N. victory in Korea
but also of being entirely prepared
to plunge the whole world into
cataclysm in the process.
At least one side-the U. NJ
was striving nightly to prevent
the conflict from spreading. Bu1
there could be no way of knowing
whether the U. MS efforts woulo
succeed, largely because there
could be no way of knowing
whether the Communists either
wanted peace or knew how te
restore it.
The U. N. moved swiftly - a.
least at the outSet-to deal with
this new threat to internationa
peace and security.
Diplomatic Showdown
The Security Council agreed tt
consider the Chinese. intervention
and to invite representatives of the
Peiping regime to take part II
the Councils discussions of the
problem.
The U. N. Interim Committee
on Korea adopted a resolution
which declared, in effect, thai
U. N. forces would respect the
Korean Manchurian border "a
point on which Peiping was ex-
pressing alarm.
The United States proposed
resolution for adoption by the Sc.
curity Council which calls on the
Chinese to withdraw their forces
from Korea and at the same time
adds yet another assurance that
U. N. forces will remain in Koree
only for the purpose of helping
set up a peaceful, democratic anc
unified government for the
country.
A diplomatic showdown threat
ened these promising beginnings
however, and the possibility, il
not probability, of a Soviet veto
hung over the proceedings in the
Security Council.
Some members felt that the
Council should not act on the
Chinese Intervention until Pei
pings representatives arrive at
Lake Success. If this view pre-
walls, the speed with which the
Council can move will depend in
the first instance on the peregri-
nations of the Chinese representa-
tives, who are proceeding to New
York by way of Moscow, it is re-
ported, and who appear, thus far.
to be travelling with something
less than supersonic swiftness.
The. Soviets, moreover, will al
most certainly veto any action
they consider adverse to the pur-
poses and interests of their
Chinese and North Korean satel-
lites. The United States can refer
the Chinese intervention to the
General Assembly, in such an
event. but this, too, can consume
much time.
Three Roads to War
There could be no guarantee
Furthermore, that even instan-
taneous and unanimous action by
the U. N. could extinguish the
flames in Korea, or prevent theil
spreading.
A world war could come in any
one of at least three ways-by
a deliberate choice on the part
of the Communists, as a result
Of a terrible miscalculation BY
either side, or by the sheer mo-
nentum of military events already
set in motion.
The consensus in Washington
still is that neither Peiping MOI
Moscow probably wants a major
war now, but those who share
this view are appreciably les.
confident now than they were II
days ago.
There is also less confidence
here in the ability of either sidt
to avoid mistakes which nigh
prove fatal. Both sides have
indeed. already made grave anc
narrowing miscalculations.
The Communists thought las
July that they could overrul
South Korea SO speedily that TIN
free world would be able to mus
ter neither the will nor the mean
to oppose them effectively.
The free world had thought
on the other hand, that the Com
munists would not resort to open
naked aggression, even if they dit
think they could do so with rela
tive impunity.
Even when the North Korean
struck, the United States con
tinued to believe that neithe
Peiping nor Moscow would inter
vene. Washington always kne,
that the Chinese or the Soviets-
or both-might enter the conflict
The United States felt that it mus
act in Korea even if the two great
est Communist powers we're t
intervene But the American
high-policy calculation was tha
they probably would not do so.
Explosive Situation
The present calculation tina
Peiping and Moscow wish to avoi
a major war may be correct, il
spite of past mistakes in esti
mating the Communists capabil
tiles and intentions. But even
relative optimism on this score
justified. war can still issue out G
the events already in train. TIL
flames already raging can sprea
beyong the ability of any one an
every one to control them.
Great wars have resulted fror
situations far less explosive thai
the present one.
Why are the Chinese Com
munistS and their Soviet patron
deliberately running these ghaStl