Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1951-07-08

The joint chiefs are quarterb
and Admira, Sherman.
commanders in Korea have made
the news. But his conversations
with the Joint Chiefs of Staff in
Washington have been far more ex-
tensive. In the Pentagon's telecon
room, the service heads sit in front
of a screen, on which decided in
coming messages are flashed. Their
answers appear on another screen.
The general has his instructions.
When he, or his emissary, goes into
conference with the enemy, there
will be placed on the table a set
of American proposals designed to
insure that the fighting, if stopped,
will stay stopped while the political
questions are sthreshed out in the
second phase. Only one of these
proposals has been aired officially;
it might more properly be called O
demand. We will insist, Assistant
Secretary Of State Dean Rusk said
last week, that an international
commission have access to all of
Korea throughout the truce period
to see what is going on on both
sides of the line.
There will be other proposals. A
buffer zone between the armies
must obviously be part Of the pre-
liminary agreement. According to
reports, we will seek one 20 miles
wide, its southern edge running
roughly along the present battle
line-a little south Of the 38th
Parallel at the western end, that is;
a good bit north of SO on the east.
The territory given up to establish
such a zone would be given up by
the Communists.
Further possible terms of the
armistice would include an ex-
change of war prisoners, of which
we now hold about 160,O00-the
enemy, about 10000.
Quite clearly, all these proposals
will not go easily down the Com
munist Threats. If the crucial
inspection-right demand is fully
met, it will be the first time any Red
controlled area has been opened up
to such surveillance.
Yet until these proposals are
adopted as armistice terms-or I'M
til a suitable compromise is &C
cepted by us-the fighting will
go on.
Two Big Headaches
In addition to the negotiations
themselves, Gen. Ridgway will have
two very serious problems on his
hands in this phase. The first is
how to maintain the aggressive
morale of his Western troops while
peace is in the air. The second is
how to deal with the South Korean
forces under his command, whose
government is bitterly opposed to
any agreement which would stop
the fighting on the 38th Par
allel, whatever the future hope of
more favorable political settlement
may be.
The morale problem while armi-
stice negotiations are going on is
obvious. There is no international
inspection in this period. The talks
may break off at any moment, late
or soon, in which case the enemy
can be expected to resume his at
tack with renewed strength. It is
essential that our forces continue
to patrol vigorously and maintain
close contact with the Reds. It is
essential that we keep sharp air
watch con the enemy's movements
and continue to bomb his troop
concentrations.
Tt Is inevitable that infantrymen
will continue to be killed in these
days, and that planes will continue
to be shot down. Nothing is harder
than to keep an army in fighting
trim and fighting posture when the
end of a war seems near.
Nor will this problem be eased
when and If armiStice terms are
agreed upon and the fighting actu-
ally stops. For weeks, probably
months, thereafter, the lines must
be held while the diplomats try to-
arrive at long-range settlement:
war may be renewed at any time.
There is certain to be, as there was
in 1945, clamor at home for the
immediate return of the boys who
have done the fighting. This will
come on top of an accelerated rota-
ton program, already inaugurated,
which Is to return to this country.
each month, some 10000 troops
4