Evening star., 1950-12-09
Words That Say Nothing

WORDS That Say Nothing
It is something of misnomer to speak of
the official statement issued on the Truman
Attlee conversations as a communique, for 1t
communicates very little in the way of nforma-
tion Perhaps it was designed to confuse the
enemy. If so, the drafters have done an adn1i-
rable job.
Unfortunately, the communique will also
confuse the American people, or, more accurately,
it will do nothing to relieve the confusion which
already prevails. Criticism this score is to
be expected, but there are certain matters in
this respect which the people should keep in
mind. The principal point here is that an army,
largely an American army, is in jeopardy in
Korea. Presumably the President and the British
Prime Minister reached decisions bearing on the
military situation in Korea and the safety of the
army. If so, there is no hint of their nature in
the communique. An obvious and very good
reason for this is that to reveal the nature of
the decisions probably would endanger the Sc
curity of the army. No one in his right mind
would want to be party to any criticism OF
Official silence in these circumstances.
It is also possible that the two men have
gone farther, that decisions may have been made
which involve new commitments. Again, If this
is so, there is nothing in the communique which
even hints at the nature of such commitments
1ueTe is room mere lot CTlClClSm 1I-anQ IL is
a big if-the President has entered into any
agreement which commits this country to new
undertakings not directly related to the i'm
mediate military crisis on the Korean peninsula
The Star, while having no reason to believe that
any such decisions have been made, is in SYM
pathy with the view that there should be no
significant departure from established policies
without full opportunity for public debate and
consideration. Many of our troubles today
spring from improvident diplomatic deals that
were made in secret, and we cannot afford to
make any more such errors.
In addition to leaving things unsaid the
communique also makes statements that are
hardly calculated to clear away the confusion
that is in many minds
1t is gratifying, for instance, to read the
firm declaration that the two national leaders are
in complete agreement that there can be no
thought of appeasement or of rewarding ag-
gression. 1t is also encouraging to read the
realistic statement that lasting peace and the
future of the United Nations as an instrument
for world peace depend upon strong support for
resistance against aggression"
It is less encouraging to read in the next
paragraph that Messrs. Truman and Attlee are
ready to seek an end to hostities by means of
negotiation. This is linked with a statement of
desire to achieve the purposes of the United Ma
Ill nOIca ny peaceful means. But is Cflere
the slightest basis for believing that the aims of
the U. N. can be achieved by negotiation? Thir-
teen U. N. members have appealed to the Chinese
Communists to halt their aggression at the 38th
Parallel If Mr.. Truman and Mr.. Attlee are
thinking in terms of a settlement that would
leave the Chinese army in North Korea they
ought to stop talking about resisting and re-
fusing to reward aggression For any such
settlement is implicit in the 13-nation appeal
would reward and condone aggression and would
destroy the moral foundation on which the U. N.
must rest.
The communique also says that in the cir
cumstanceS which confront two nations
throughout the world, we must devote ourselves
with all vigor to building up our defense forces
Then it says this: 1--WE believe that the Com
munist leaders of the Soviet Union and China
could, if they chose modify their conduct in
such way as to make these defense preparations
unnecessary
What does this mean? Suppose the Chinese
should get out of Korea and the Russians should
return to the relative sweet reasonableness of
the immediate postwar era. Would we and
the British then abandon our defensive efforts,
as we scrapped our wartime military machine in
the foolish hope that we could live with the
Communists? If so, we have learned nothing
in the past five years.
points, for they probably represent nothing more
than an expression of pious hopes which both
men know to be lacking in substance. Still, it
is disappointing to find such things in the COM
munique.
The President and the Prime Minister should
not have been expected to divulge anything
which has real bearing on our security. There
is no basis for criticism on this score But it
is too bad that they said things which can only
&1 1f,,1 4lan4
they did not seize upon this communique as an
opportunity to tell the people of the terrible
danger which surrounds them and of the desper-
ately urgent need to prepare for it. There has
been too much of tendency to talk to the people
in terms of hopes The time has come when the
President should tell them, not what he hopes
will happen, but what he believes we can look
forward to.
Second to None