Evening star., 1951-11-27
"A Foreign Policy for Americans
Taft Pins Appeosement Tag on State Department,
Says u S. Refused to Push War in Korea
By Senator Robert A. loft
CHAPTER IL.


CHAPTER IL.
Once it became apparent that
the policy of Furnishing aggression
could not be carried through there
was some logical argument for
entirely evacuating Korea. But
having gone into Korea, having
suffered more than 100000 cas-
ualties, it seems obvious to me
that we could not withdraw. Such
a withdrawal would be inter-
preted throughout Asia not only
as a political defeat but also as a
military defeat.
Since it was impossible to in
wade China, the best solution
would have been to drive the Chi
nese out of Korea, to ask the
United Nations to set up Korean
Republic. to maintain our troops
there for some time and then arm
the Koreans with weapons which
would enable them to stand
against Chinese attack, and to
give them such economic and
arms aid in peace and military
aid from the sea and air in war
as we might be able to afford.
The administration, however,
refused to use the various meas
ures suggested by Gen. MacAr-
thur as means of conquering all
of Korea and setting up an inde-
pendent republic under the pro-
lection of the United Nations.
Their only proposal was a more
Or less endless war in which we
would advance to the 38th Paral-
Ilel but would not attempt to go
beyond that point to any material
extent. Such stalemate accom-
iplished no purpose, except to
eliminate the idea that We had
suffered a military defeat.
Alternative Policy Cited.
The only other policy under
consideration, prior to the Malik
proposal for an armistice, was the
negotiating of an armistice with
the North Koreans and the Chi
nese Communists, the withdrawal
of all foreign troops from Korea
and the discussion of the ques-
tlons of Formosa and the admis-
sion of Chinese Communists to the
United Nations and to the nego-
tiations on the Japanese peace
treaty.
Such settlement, I believe.
would be very much worse even
than an unconditional withdrawal
from Korea, but the State De-
partment at one time approved it..
In January. 1851, the Secretary of
State agreed to the cease-fire plan
approved by the United Nations
Political Committee. That cease
fire plan provided. first for a
truce. Then it provided:
TO permit the carrying out of
the General Assembly resolution
that Korea should be a unified,
independent. democratic, SOW
erelgn state with a constitution
and a government based on free
popular elections, all Korean
armed forces will be withdrawn.
by appropriate stages, from Korea,
and appropriate arrangements. in
accordance with United Nations
principles, will be made for the
Korean people to express their
own free will in respect to their
future government"
Feared Communist Treachery.
The withdrawal of all non-Ko-
rean forces from Korea under the
conditions existing there would
In my opinion, mean the commu-
nlzatlon of Korea. The Russians
do not care what they do under
ground. They do not regard their
promises. Our effort in a Korean
election Of that kind would be
completely swamped by Commu-
mist Vaccinations. In effect. to
agree to that is to agree to a Com
munist-controlled government of
Korea.
Then, even more important.
there was contained in the agree
ment the following:
"AS soon as the agreement has
been reached on a cease-fire, the
General Assembly shall set up an
appropriate body which shall in
clude representatives of the gov
ernments of the United Kingdom,
the United States of America, the
Union of Soviet Socialist Repub-
lies and the Peoples Republic of
China with view to the achieve
ment of settlement, in conform
ity with existing international
obligations and provisions of the
United Nations Charter. of Far
Eastern problems, including
among others, those of Formosa
and Of representation of China in
the United Nations"
"Appeasement" Peace.
Thus, as late as January, 1851,
the Secretary of State agreed that
we would sit down with England,
with Communist China itself, with
the Union of Soviet Socialist Re-
publicS, all three of them urging
upon us appeasement peace, and
that there would be completely
excluded from the conference Ma
tionalist China, the recognized
government of China, which has
Ia seat in the Security Council to-
day. That was equivalent to say
ing. I'VE are willing to give up
Formosa. We are willing to have
Communist China admitted to the
United Nations"
1t was fortunate indeed that