Evening star., 1951-05-05


the League of Nations was not to
tackle that fundamental problem.
u. N. Called Noble Concept.
Senator Fulbright Do you
think the United Nations is a
reasonable approach to this prob
lem?
Can you think of a better way?
| Gen. MacArthur-It is the effort
we are making.
Senator Fulbright-Can you think
of a better way? That is what we
have all been trying to do.
Gen. Macarthur repeat that
the mission and the concept and
the hopes which underline the
organization of the United Nations
is one of the higeSt and noblest
concepts the world has ever had. -.
Senator Fulbright-General, would
it surprise you to know that the
Secretary of State >. opposed your
recall vigorously in discussions at
the highest level? -.
Gen. MacArthur-I have never
met the Secretary of State. I have
never attributed to him in the
slightest degree the decision of the
President to replace me. -.
Asked About Ridgway.
Senator Cain-Gen. Macarthur
all of us are very mindful of the
great responsibilities which have
been imposed upon your successor
Gen. Matthew, Ridgway in the Far
East. We Americans at home wish
to help Gen. Ridgway in every pos
sible manner.
| Would you care to reflect on Gen
Ridgway's capacity as your sue
cessor? And, Gen. Macarthur, !
ask this question because I take
for granted that Gen. Ridgway
was ordered to Korea with your
concurrence.
Gen. MacArthur-Gen. RidgWay
was my selection and recommends
ton as the commander of the
9th Army after the unfortunate
death of that very magnificent
soldier. Gen. Walker.
I have known Gen. Ridgway for
80 years. I don't think you could
have made a more admirable selec-
tion in the Far East than Gen.
Ridgway. I hold him in the high
est esteem, not only as a soldier
but as a cultured gentleman and
one of the most magnificent char
acters I have ever been acquainted
with.
Senator Cain-Gen. Macarthur,
I think I ought to say this off the
record. GA discussion was had of
the recordD
Loyalty and Devotion.
Senator Cain-Gen. Macarthur
some of my colleagues in the Sen
ate appear in days gone by to have
been in doubt about your military
relationship with Gen. Ridgway
who succeeded Gen. Walker.
It is my understanding that from
the moment Gen. Ridgway reported
to Korea until you turned over your
several commands to him, that
Gen. Ridgway took his orders and
directives from you as supreme
commander and from you alone.
Gen. MacArthur-That is abso-
lutely correct, and I don't know
how there could have been. any
more complete cooperation. devo-
ton and loyalty both ways than
between Gen. Ridgway and myself
| Mission in Korea.
| Senator Cain. :. I would like to
clear in my own mind on what your
mission was from the day you en-
tered Korea last June, 1850.
I notice from some statements
offered in the Congressional Record
of April l3 that a reference was
made to a statement made by the
President of the United States on
October 10. 1850, in which the
President said with reference to
your mission in Korea:
His misunderstanding to Gen.
MacArthur-"has been to repel ag-
gression and to restore international
peace and security in the area as
called for by the United Ma
tions."
On October Ambassador
Warren r. Austin in addressing the
General Assembly of the United Ma
tions said this:
"In June and July of this year.
referring to 1950-"the security
council of the United Nations gave
all the necessary military authority
to the United Nations commander
to repel the aggressor army and re-
store peace in Korea"
I understood you, sir, on yester-
day, to have said that your mission
in Korea was to clear Korea of
the enemy-get that enemy out of
Korea-and to make of Korea a
free, united and self lf-controlled ma
tion. :.
Gen. Macarthur. That is the
initial resolution that the Security
Council passed and the General
Assembly confirmed early in Oc-
tober.
Senator Cain. May ask you,
sir, if the mission which was given
to you by the United Nations and
by the United States and by SO ma
tions of the United Nations .
has ever been changed by higher
authority.
Only Change Cited.
Gen. MacArthur-No, sir. The only
change that that has been made was
the directive of. the Joint Chiefs of
Staff that my primary mission in
volved the preservation of my forces
and the security of Japan. That
was, of course, determinative on the
tactical dispositions I would take
with reference to my command.
Senator Cain. If that stated
mission has not been changed by
those in higher authority, how, sir,
are we to reconcile the purpose of
that mission, which was to free.
clear Korea of the enemy command
and now the command of Gen.
Ridgway from carrying out that
mission?
Gen. MacArthur-I tried to rec
oncile them in my recommends
tions and the recommendations of
the Joint Chiefs of Staff of January
IL, which I read, would have cor
lraofnI %havVo