Evening star., 1950-12-04
Private Conversation
OF Truman and AttIee
Fixes Course Of War
imaginary CoIIoquy
Recognizes Importance
Of American Opinion
By David Laurence g

olplomacy--Wnlcn is Dut another
way Of saying American public
opinion rather than European
public opinion will be decisive.
The situation with all that il
implies so far as large-scale OF
limited war is concerned can best
be outlined by imagining the fol-
lowing conversation between Presi-
dent Truman and Clement Attlee
OF Britain, who also reflects the
view Of the French government:
"Attlee: I have come to suggest
that we consider plan to ar
range an immediate armistice SO
that both sides will stop fighting
while peace is negotiated.
Feelers Made Known.
Truman: The U. N. already has
before it a resolution asking that
the Chinese Communists withdraw
their forces from North Korea
India has tried to bring about q
cease-fire agreement before but II
has failed. If the opposing troop.
cease firing and advancing we
will agree to do so too during the
period Of discussion. But suppos.
Ing the Chinese Communists
authorities do not agree?
"Attlee: Then I propose that the
o. N. offer publicly to create al
once buffer zone in North Kores
within which neither side woulc
maintain troops of occupation.
Truman: I understand feeler.
Of that kind have been made
known to the Chinese Communist.
during the last few weeks but they
insist that all American troops
leave Korea at once.
"Attlee: Maybe they will agree
now to let that wait for a COM
plete agreement on peace terms.
Truman: Meanwhile, our forces
In North Korea are being con-
fronted by huge armies of Com
munfst Chinese. II there is no
cease-fire order we must keep on
protecting our forces by any mill
tary means we have at our dis
posal.
"Attlee: Do you mean using the
atom bombs?
Europeans Afraid.
Truman: That will depend or
the military advice we receive as
to what can be done by the USE
Of that weapon.
"Attlee: But we In Europe dc
not want the atom bomb used be.
cause Russia may begin to dror
atom bombs on us.
Truman: We might agree tt
consult with you before the atom
bomb Is used but bear in mine
that we cannot be in a position ci
discussing this question when VIZ
have an acute emergency on ou
hands. If any other country
drops q bomb on us, we must be
ready to retaliate instantly with
out waiting for diplomatic ex-
changes or discussion with other
governments. The cities of the
United States are as vulnerable to
atom bomb attack as are the
European cities.
.":Attlee: We believe the atom
bomb should be used only as a
last resort.
Truman: I agree and II prac-
ticable our government will con-
suit with yours and other govern
ments before we go that far-but
only If practicable. because events
may force an instant decision on
our part.
Proposal Offered.
"Attlee: We believe also that you
should not get into a large-scale
war with China.
Truman: What do you proposei
"Attlee: That the U. N. attempt
to settle the Korean business as
gracefully as 1t can by negotiating
peace.
Truman: Would your publ.
opinion have sanctioned such Q
proposal to Hitler in June, 1910
when your troops were evacuatine
Dunkirk? What you propose viii
be construed as q surrender by u!
Of the Ear East to Russia. Doesn'i
1t mean that Japan will be threat.
ened next and perhaps the Philip.
pines?
"Attlee: These risks have to b,
taken because Europe Is the most
important front.
Truman: Both Asia and Europ,
are important. Don't forget thai
If Japan is lost to us and the Com.
munist power Is built up in North.
east Asia, then Alaska Is threat.
sned, too.
"Attlee: We realize the globa
nature Of the problem but we still
feel that you, should conserve your
energies mostly for use in protect.
ing Europe-that is. the principal
armament emphasis should be on
Europe.
Truman: To forfeit our position
IN Asia and to concentrate wholly
on Europe may cause many Amer
leans to think that If we got out
of Asia we should get out of Eu-
rope, too. It's a risky philosophy
and could revive isolationisrn. In
World War II we managed to
maintain ourselves in both the Pa.
cific and the Atlantic. With the
wholehearted help Of European
countries we should be able to do
both again. We are fighting fol
survival and our own security as
much in Korea as we would be in
, Europe.
No Alternative.
"Atlee: Then you mean to II
ahead and fight 1t out?
Truman: If the Chinese Com.
munist authorities refuse to stor
their attack on us we have NJ
alternative. We must protect oul
troops in the Far East and pres.
the war against those who have
made war on us.
"Atlee: I hope the Chinese
Communists will listen to reason
thurman. h0r1e en- fno